METRO ROD HELPS FOODCYCLE SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING ACROSS LOCAL COMMUNITIES

As part of our commitment to support the local communities in which we operate, Metro Rod has chosen to support FoodCycle – a national charity that provides hungry and lonely people in our communities with delicious meals and great conversation, using food that would otherwise go to waste.

Metro Rod’s mission to support FoodCycle will help areas of the charity which have the greatest need. This could include the recruitment and training of FoodCycle volunteers, or the purchase of vital kitchen equipment to help create nutritious community meals.

Food poverty and loneliness are growing issues in society, both of which have been heightened by the recent pandemic. FoodCycle works to tackle these by offering a welcoming, safe space to enjoy a free meal. Week in, week out, FoodCycle has thousands of volunteers across the country running the projects and bringing together people from all backgrounds and walks of life; improving mental wellbeing, strengthening community spirit and reducing loneliness, as well as helping reduce the environmental impact that food waste creates.

As well as alleviating food poverty and supporting mental health, FoodCycle promotes sustainability and protecting the planet is a key aim. The fresh produce used to create their vegetarian meals is donated by supermarkets and local suppliers and would have otherwise gone to waste. These ingredients are then combined with store cupboard essentials and cooked up in ‘ready-steady-cook’ style to create delicious, nutritious meals for communities to share.

Peter Molloy, Managing Director at Metro Rod, commented: “We’re delighted to support FoodCycle and their goals to reduce food waste, food poverty and loneliness which all align with our own values. As a franchisor, we operate across all towns and cities in the UK. It’s our objective to support our local communities, whether that’s tackling unemployment, embedding sustainability through our supply chain, reducing our environmental impact or working with local charities.”

Jessica Phillimore, Fundraising and Corporate Partnerships Manager at FoodCycle, commented: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Metro Rod. Their support will enable us to help our guests at FoodCycle Projects across the country. Working with partners and volunteers who share our ethos allows us to continue the fight against food poverty and loneliness.”

You can find out more about Food Cycle on their website: www.foodcycle.org.uk

To find out more about Metro Rod’s CSR policy and the support we provide to local communities, visit: www.metrorod.co.uk/about-us/corporate-social-responsibility/