An award-winning community meals service that runs once every week for free using food that would otherwise have gone to waste is opening a new hub.

FoodCycle will provide a free meal every Tuesday at 6.30pm at Park Lane Methodist Church in Wembley from March 28.

This will be the charity’s 17th project in London. FoodCycle in Finsbury Park recently won a Civic Award in Islington for using surplus food to provide a free three-course meal for people in need every Wednesday.

FoodCycle says that ‘community dining’ is vital to tackling loneliness and food insecurity.

The charity’s north London regional manager, Jen Gazda, said: “We are thrilled to be opening our 17th Project in London, introducing FoodCycle to the Wembley community.

“As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit people hard across the country and we greet spring with news of increased energy bills and supermarket food supply issues, our service is more vital than ever.

“We look forward to providing a warm space, friendly chat and a nutritious, three-course meal to anyone in the community who needs it, no questions asked.”

According to FoodCycle, 87% of guests that use the charity’s weekly service say that it makes them feel part of their community.

Meals are made using edible surplus food from supermarkets, independent grocery shops and markets.

In 2022, the charity says it saved 208 tonnes of food from going to waste, relying on the help of more than 5,000 volunteers to run its services.

One FoodCycle volunteer called Paul said: "Because of FoodCycle, I’ve found I enjoy cooking and being in the kitchen environment and it’s something I’d love to do as proper paid work.

“Being at FoodCycle every week helps to show that I am reliable, can work with other people and that I am committed, so it’s really changed things for me.

“We have a natter and a laugh, and I like the teamwork and the people. We eat good food and catch up on what we’ve been doing in the week. Everyone is very kind and very inclusive."

FoodCycle is now appealing for volunteers to help run its latest project in Park Lane.

To sign up as a volunteer or for more information on FoodCycle visit www.foodcycle.org.uk or email wembley@foodcycle.org.uk.