Timely funding saves FoodCycle Walsall community meal from closure
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Walsall Council has provided £17,000 in financial support, made available through Central Government’s Household Support Fund, to help a local community meal project that provides free, nutritious dinners cooked by volunteers using surplus food to stay open.
FoodCycle Walsall, which had been facing closure due to a lack of funding, will continue serving free community meals to residents thanks to this grant delivered through Walsall Council’s Community Food Project.
The vital community service, which runs every Wednesday evening at Green Lane Baptist Church on Burrowes Street, was set to serve its last meal but will now remain open for at least another 12 months following the Council’s intervention.
Since launching on 8 September 2021, FoodCycle Walsall has made a remarkable impact on the local community. The project has saved nearly nine tonnes (8,990 kilograms) of surplus food from going to waste, served more than 5,054 community meals to 373 unique guests, and benefited from 7,531 volunteer hours donated by 134 dedicated volunteers.
FoodCycle Walsall brings together volunteers and surplus food to create nutritious, vegetarian three-course meals for anyone in the community who needs food or companionship. The service is delivered by national community dining charity FoodCycle and relies on dedicated volunteers who cook, host, and collect surplus food, transforming what would otherwise be wasted into nourishing meals served with conversation and community spirit.
The financial assistance from the council will enable FoodCycle Walsall to maintain its operations over the next year, ensuring residents from all walks of life can come together over a free, hot meal.
“ FoodCycle Walsall provides an invaluable service to our residents, not just through the free meals they serve but through the sense of community and connection they create. Through our Community Food Project, supported by Central Government’s Household Support Fund, we are proud to provide this financial assistance to ensure FoodCycle can continue its vital work. The impact of their work in the community speaks for itself. This is exactly the kind of community-led initiative we want to support in Walsall. “
“ We are incredibly grateful to Walsall Council for this financial assistance, which means we can continue serving the local community. Over the past three years, FoodCycle Walsall has become more than just a meal service. It's a place where people find friendship, support, and a warm welcome every week. Our volunteers have given thousands of hours to make this happen, and knowing we can continue this vital work is wonderful news. We look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new guests to share in our community meals. “
The Wednesday evening meals are served at 7pm at Green Lane Baptist Church, on Burrowes Street, WS2 8NX. The meals are open to anyone who would like to come along. No booking is required, and everyone is welcome.
FoodCycle’s model of bringing people together over meals addresses both food poverty and social isolation, creating vital connections within the community. Volunteers aged 18 and over are always welcome to join the team in cooking, hosting, or food collection roles.
The Household Support Fund, provided by Central Government and administered locally by Walsall Council, continues to play an important role in supporting essential community services that tackle food insecurity and loneliness across the borough.
For more information or to volunteer with FoodCycle Walsall visit:
https://foodcycle.org.uk/location/foodcycle-walsall-green-lane/
