I first started volunteering at Food Works in 2017 while working part-time for a small health tech company (Elaros ltd). I was looking for a cause to volunteer for on my days off that supported sustainability, and I discovered Food Works. I volunteered once a week at the Upperthorpe cafe and also helped out at bistro nights. It also helped that I could reduce the family food costs by shopping at the Food Works market.
The CEO of Elaros and I, had our Christmas lunch at Food Works in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, I left the company, started a full-time job elsewhere and stopped volunteering.
In early 2025, I took voluntary redundancy. While contemplating my future in the workforce I started volunteering again, this time at the Sharrow cafe which is a few minutes walk from my house.
I love rustling up fabulous meals from food that would otherwise be discarded and know that by doing this, I am contributing in a small way to sustainability. It is also great to meet and chat to other volunteers and I always learn some new cooking tips from them or the chefs.
I occasionally bring friends into the Sharrow cafe for lunch and take advantage of the ready meals for weekends away – which saves cooking!
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