East of England – Lindi Holmes
Lindi is a dedicated volunteer who can always be depended on. She’s a witty team member with excellent management skills and consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the food collection runs smoothly. Despite surplus food becoming increasingly difficult to source, Lindi’s commitment to ensuring the Cambridge project has a variety of ingredients to cook with is truly heroic. She collaborates effectively with other charities and plays a vital role in maintaining FoodCycle’s strong relationship with the Cambridge venue. Lindi keeps detailed records of every item in the pantry and regularly updates leaders on what to prioritise for each session. Her strong relationships with other charities and food provision groups support the fair and successful distribution of surplus food across the city. Lindi is also a passionate champion for sustainability and waste reduction, always encouraging the team to reuse and refill containers wherever possible.
East London – Ronnie Whelan
Ronnie is a hosting leader and is the lifeblood of the FoodCycle Bow Road team and is almost always there, giving up his Friday nights to support the project. He has not had an easy life and used to rough sleep but now lives in council flat and volunteers in his area almost full time. He knows all the regular visitors by name and works hard to make them feel welcome. He runs a tight ship and is great at managing an efficient hosting team. Ronnie is a local legend, and he knows how to make people feel part of the project. He’s thoughtful, kind and works hard to make people feel included. As well as hosting, Ronnie often signposts guests to other useful services in the area. He brings food over from the local food bank when they’ve got too much, which is useful for the FoodCycle kitchen.
East Midlands – Sue Green
Sue attends the FoodCycle Sutton-in-Ashfield Project every week and is the ethos of the organisation. Sue is a natural leader and is looked up to by all volunteers, as well as a good mediator, helping to build bridges between others. She’s welcoming and receptive to new volunteers, offering clear direction and advice to help them settle in. She is also a great support to guests, often signposting them to other services in the area. Sue regularly does both the Cooking and Hosting Team and washes the aprons and tea towels every week, showing her hardworking, selfless nature. Sue plays a key role in promotional activities, helping to organise events like the Ashfield Show and the monthly Park Runs. The Park Runs involve coordinating volunteers to run a stall, collect food donations, and raise awareness of FoodCycle’s work. Sue is a FoodCycle Ambassador and looks for ways to widen our reach and impact. Sue is passionate about supporting others in her local community and is full of compassion for those in need. Sue has also spoken about how the Project has impacted her, helping her meet and make friends with people of different backgrounds.
North and West London – Frank Lampen
Frank has been a project leader at FoodCycle Kilburn for many years, and he is a huge asset not just to the project leader team but also to the FoodCycle staff team, offering his vast amount of knowledge. His sessions are unbeatable, and he is a reliable presence, addressing challenges as they emerge with efficiency and care. He essentially functions as the ‘manager’ of the project leaders at the largest FoodCycle and makes sure it runs as smoothly as it does. His contributions make for a better FoodCycle outlet and such an amazing experience for their guests. Frank is very humble, but guests and volunteers all know he is the backbone of the Kilburn project, and they rely on him so much. He has provided amazing support and training, and has demonstrated dedication and resilience over all these years.
North East – Alexandra (Alex) Wilkinson
Alex is an incredible dedicated volunteer who has put in over 1,000 hours of her time to FoodCycle Walker and Byker. She is there every week and consistently arrives early to get started. She is an excellent chef and a natural and efficient leader. She goes above and beyond and she is liked and respected by volunteers and guests alike. For the past two years, Alex has attended the project every single week without fail. Thanks to her consistency, cancellations have often been avoided, meaning guests don’t miss out on their much-loved community meal. Leading at both projects in the Hosting and Cooking roles, Alex also jumps in whenever asked at other Northeast projects to avoid the meals being cancelled at the last minute. She always catches up with regulars and checks in with new guests and is described as a ‘reet canny lass’.
North West – Janet Backstrom
Janet is the heart and soul of FoodCycle Dingle with a wealth of knowledge that she is willing to teach to new volunteers. She is a long-standing volunteer and now an exceptional team leader. Janet brings warmth, dedication, and a sense of community to every session. Janet is known for her incredible cooking and consistently transforms donated ingredients into meals that guests love. Her impact goes far beyond the kitchen and is universally respected by volunteers and adored by guests, whom she knows by name and treats with genuine care. She makes everyone feel welcome, valued, and part of a community. Whether leading the kitchen, hosting, or stepping in to cover both roles on the same night, Janet is always present, calm, and solution focused. She goes the extra mile by bringing birthday cards for guests, deep cleaning the pantry, and even redirecting surplus food to local charities when meals are cancelled. Her presence ensures the project runs smoothly, remains joyful, and continues to thrive. Janet is the glue that holds the team together.
South East – Lesley Clements
Lesley has completed over 500 hours of volunteer at FoodCycle Havant. She brings exceptional leadership to both the kitchen and overall project. Lesley leads the Kitchen Team at Havant, and she creates such a positive and light-hearted atmosphere Her approach ensures the team consistently produces an impressive three-course meal for guests, using whatever food donations are available. She is quick to find solutions to challenges and is committed to supporting volunteer welfare. Lesley has built relationships with external community members which has been a huge help to the Havant team, in particular with sourcing amazing local food. She handles any issues smoothly and efficiently, and excels at managing both the team and her relationships with volunteers and guests.
South London – Stella Sekers
Stella has been a dedicated volunteer at FoodCycle Peckham for many years, consistently going above and beyond to support both guests and volunteers. She’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave, ensuring each session runs smoothly and efficiently. Her thoughtful organisation and attention to detail make a noticeable difference in the kitchen. Stella’s passion for FoodCycle shines through in every session. She warmly welcomes new volunteers, patiently teaching them essential skills, and has built strong relationships with many of their regular guests. Her kindness and compassion create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that everyone appreciates. As one of Peckham’s longest-standing volunteers, Stella has become a pillar of the Wednesday team. Her commitment, warmth, and tireless efforts are deeply respected by all who work with her. Whether she’s cooking, hosting, or simply catching up with guests, Stella brings heart and joy to everything she does.
South West – Heong Wei Tse
Heong Wei works tirelessly on his bike as a food collector for FoodCycle Bristol. He always delivers with a huge smile, whether it’s raining or sunny, and is often the first to offer help when something is needed for cooking. He brings energy and generosity to every shift and truly reflects the spirit of FoodCycle. He is reliable and welcoming, especially to new volunteers and other cyclists. He takes the time to guide them through the process, making sure they feel confident and supported from the start. Even when numbers are low or he is working solo, he steps up without hesitation. His dedication and consistent support make him an exceptional volunteer whose efforts often go unseen but are deeply appreciated. He is also a passionate advocate for FoodCycle in the Bristol area. His relationships with surplus food partners and his commitment to sustainability make a real difference to the project and to the city. Heong Wei has had a huge impact at FoodCycle Bristol and continues to inspire others through his quiet leadership and unwavering dedication.
Wales – Simon Michaels
Simon is a regular volunteer at FoodCycle Cardiff Riverside, cooking for guests almost every week. Simon is an outstanding baker and dessert creator, and he always dedicated to conjuring up something amazing with the ingredients that the project receives. He is never short of creative ideas and is always pushing himself to make amazing food, which the guests are always so grateful for. Simon is kind, conscientious and hardworking, and is a calming and reliable presence in the kitchen. He brings a spirit of calm to the kitchen that helps set a really positive working environment for everyone around him. As a highly valued member of the cooking team, he not only creates mouth-watering treats but also offers a warm welcome to new volunteers, guiding them with patience and kindness. Simon truly embodies the ethos of the project.
West Midlands – Lynne Gutteridge
Lynne is a committed volunteer who has been at the heart of both the Longbridge and Weoley Castle FoodCycle projects for over five years. With more than 2,200 volunteer hours, she consistently goes above and beyond in every aspect of her role. Lynne is dedicated to cooking sessions, collecting surplus food, and supporting volunteers and guests. She monitors both project inboxes, helps with safeguarding, and is always ready to step in wherever needed. Her commitment extends beyond the kitchen as she regularly collects food donations, often outside of project hours, and has built strong relationships with suppliers, even sourcing baked goods through her employer. She is also instrumental in organising celebrations, raffles, and special events, and helping to make FoodCycle a place of community and joy. Despite facing personal challenges over the past year, she has continued to bring joy and stability to the projects, showing incredible resilience and strength. Lynne ensures that every person who walks through the door receives not just a warm meal, but a warm welcome.
Yorkshire and the Humber – Tilla Brook
Tilla has been volunteering with FoodCycle for just under a year, but her impact has already been deeply felt by both guests and volunteers. A regular and reliable member of the cooking team, she instinctively knows what needs doing and is a tremendous support to the Project Leaders. Tilla brings empathy and encouragement to every session. She gently supports volunteers who need adjustments, boosts the confidence of those who are unsure, and ensures that every new team member feels welcome, regardless of their background. Beyond her time in the kitchen, Tilla goes the extra mile. She provides lifts to fellow volunteers who’ve lost access to transport, repairs abandoned kitchen gadgets and even keeps our knives sharp and ready for use. Her kind nature and quiet generosity help create a warm, inclusive atmosphere from the moment people walk through the door. Tilla is simply a joy to work with, and our team adores her.
