By FoodCycle High Wycombe
At FoodCycle High Wycombe, we believe everyone deserves a delicious and nutritious meal, a warm welcome, and a sense of belonging. That's why we run weekly community meals using surplus food which is then cooked and served by a dedicated team of local volunteers.
Thanks to the support of Red Kite Community Housing through their community funding, we've achieved incredible things in just one year:
- Over 1,500 three-course meals were served - each packed with fresh fruit and vegetables, reaching 134 individuals in High Wycombe.
- More than 1,000kg of surplus food has been rescued – that's food saved from landfill and turned into delicious meals for those in our community that need it!
But the numbers only tell part of the story. Here's what FoodCycle truly means to our guests:
- It promotes healthier eating habits - 86% of guests tried new foods and 69% ate more fruit and vegetables
- It eases food insecurity - 67% received an extra meal a week and 43% fed their families more easily
- It fosters social connections - every guest made new friends and left feeling less lonely
- It builds a sense of belonging and inclusion - everyone felt more connected to their community.
One of our guests said, "It's amazing! A lovely, warm, inviting place to come. I'm getting to know more people and it means I get my five a day of fruit and veg on at least one day a week."
Red Kite's support has been essential in making these positive impacts possible. The Starting Blocks funding provided the resources we needed to get started, allowing us to:
- Secure a central location for our weekly meals
- Equip our kitchen with essential equipment
- Purchase ingredients and cover operational costs
- Promote our project and attract volunteers and guests.
Together, we're proving that, we can combat food waste and food insecurity simultaneously, we can build social connections and foster a sense of community and we can make a real difference in people's lives, one delicious meal at a time.
While we've achieved amazing things so far, we're always looking for ways to grow and serve even more people. If you're interested in getting involved, whether that be as a volunteer or guest, please don't hesitate to reach out. Head over to our website to find out more.