What If The Most Important Ingredient Is People?

A weekly bag of surplus food can be the start of something bigger. Things like a reason to get out, a proper chat, and a room full of people who notice if you’re missing. We’re back with a slice of bread and butter to head up to the North East and meet Carol, a Fordley hub volunteer just outside Newcastle who first came along as a member, then got “sucked in” when the team needed more hands. 

Carol shares what she gets from volunteering after retiring, including how her background in hospice admin and bereavement support shaped the way she values steady community, kindness, and practical help. We talk through what the hub actually looks like on the ground: the flow through the building, the jobs that make it run smoothly, and the small rituals that turn a food club into a social space. You’ll hear why our affordable food scheme has no means test, and how that changes the feel of the room. 

We also get into the realities of surplus food redistribution. How the bags are great value, but the contents depend on what comes in, from brilliant fruit and veg to the occasional curveball. Carol chats about trying new ingredients like asparagus, staying gluten-free, and wasting less with simple habits such as freezing what you can. Mark and Vic reflect on volunteer turnover, mixed ages, and how most people join through word of mouth, plus what we really look for when opening new hubs. We look beyond the building to the people, the partnership and the vibe.