FoodCycle Lewisham

Aim

Free weekly community meals across Lewisham so those experiencing food poverty and loneliness have access to meals and company.

We are FoodCycle Lewisham, a Lewisham Local project. Since 2016 we have offered free three-course vegetarian meals using surplus food, ensuring no one goes hungry and helping reduce food waste. In 2025 we expanded the service by launching a new meal at All Saints Community Centre in New Cross - running every Thursday lunchtime and open to anyone.

All of us in the Lewisham community see the challenges those around us are facing every day. With rising living costs and sharply-felt local need, many in Lewisham are facing food poverty and isolation. Our meals give people more than food - they provide dignity, social connection and a warm, welcoming community space.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We rely on charitable donations, volunteers, and support from our community. Over recent years demand has surged - guest numbers have more than doubled since 2020. This increase shows no signs of abating soon.

This fundraising will help cover increasing costs: food, kitchen supplies, hall hire, volunteer coordination and matching surplus food with volunteer cooks and hosts. It will safeguard our capacity to keep serving our vital twice-weekly meals in Catford and weekly New Cross, and ensure we can continue offering a safe space for people to eat, chat, and rebuild community.

How we’ll spend the money raised:

• Cover our essential costs that cannot be offset by surplus food and volunteer time alone (e.g. supplementing fresh produce, transport, and basics to maintain quality and consistency).
• Food and essential kitchen supplies (vegetables, store cupboard staples, cleaning materials) - to prepare healthy three-course meals.
• Venue hire for weekly meals (Catford and New Cross)
• Volunteer coordination, administration and essential project overheads (hall hire, food-collection logistics, staff and volunteer costs).

What does your donation cover?

£10 could help us buy additional staple ingredients needed to turn surplus food into a delicious three-course meal. 

£25 could provide teas and coffees for our guests for two weeks.

£50 covers the cost of takeaway boxes for guests to take food home for 2 weeks

£100 cover's volunteer expenses for six months

£120 pays for a week's hallhire

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made