FoodCycle Bath is part of a national project bringing people together to enjoy good food and uses surplus food that would otherwise be wasted. They received a grant from the BWCE Fund to continue their community dining project in Bath.
“FoodCycle community meals bring people together for good food and conversation. We serve free, wholesome meals made from food that would have gone to waste, prepared by volunteers and open to everyone.
FoodCycle is about more than food – we create a cycle of positive change – reducing food waste and hunger, tackling loneliness, supporting mental health and encouraging healthy eating and sustainable living.”
The Bath FoodCycle branch serves free meals on Wednesday evening in Walcot Methodist Chapel to anyone who wants to come along. The whole meal is provided by volunteers who collect the surplus food, prepare it, set up tables and join people for a chat as they have their dinner.
Surplus food is provided from local shops in the area, such as Landrace Bakery on Walcot Street and local supermarkets. Grant money helps towards renting the building and buying non-perishables including rice, pasta, stocks, coffee and squash.
Regularly, between 25-30 people join each session for a meal. In the winter the numbers can increase and the Christmas meal serves 45-50 people or more. They never know exactly what surplus food they will receive and they cook up amazing meals very quickly.
An example meal could be:
Starter: Root vegetable soup
Main: Spanish omelette with salad
Dessert: Fruit crumble
You can read more about BWCE’s community benefit or see other updates from BWCE Fund recipients on our news feed.