Free meals to stop food waste and loneliness in Ipswich

FoodCycle, a charity that transforms surplus food that would go to waste into soups, pasta bakes, curries, stews and pastries will host their first free weekly meal at the church at 4pm on Tuesday.

Tuesday's meal is the first meal run in Suffolk by FoodCycle, after successful meals have been held in Norwich, Peterborough, Cambridge and other cities and towns across the East of England. 

Stews, soups, pastas and curries are just some of things offered on the menu (Image: FoodCycle) This year 12,400 meals have been served in the region - saving more than 37 tonnes of surplus food from going to waste. 

The charity's regional manager for the East of England, Holly Wright, said: “We’re pleased to be launching our first FoodCycle meal for the community in Ipswich. 

"This comes at a time when there is high demand for free food provision from people across the country, particularly as the high cost of living continues to affect everything from fuel bills to food costs.

The charity is looking for volunteers for the Ipswich branch (Image: FoodCycle) "Each week we provide a safe, welcoming space for anyone who wants to come along to enjoy great food and conversation with us for free."

Suffolk Recycling places the amount of food waste at 52,000 tonnes per year, but that isn't the only issue that the charity hopes to tackle in the region. 

A survey held amongst guests at FoodCycle meals revealed that 72% of them had felt lonely. 

Holly Wright, FoodCycle regional manager for East of England (Image: FoodCycle)

By offering good food and company to guests from all walks of life, including low-income families, elderly people, refugees, people who live alone, and those who may be homeless hope to reduce this number and provide a safe space for people to enjoy a good meal.