A Manchester-based charity aiming to “fight food poverty and loneliness” will continue to provide free takeaway meals to people in need in during lockdown.
And this week, it’s also launching a ‘Cook & Collect’ and takeaway service too.
FoodCycle – a national charity which, under normal circumstances, has volunteers who take surplus food and turn it into nutritious community meals, with the aim of reducing food waste, food poverty and tackling social isolation – found that during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 68% of its guests across the country worry that they can’t afford to live and rely on FoodCycle’s weekly meals alone.
Research also showed that 80% of FoodCycle guests who attended with children said they have skipped meals this year because they could not afford or access food, and 75% also admitted that they experienced loneliness.
This is why – as vital service providing food and conversation to thousands of people every week across the country – FoodCycle projects can still legally operate and remain open.
ADVERTISEMENT
As with other takeaway services, and with additional COVID-19 policies and procedures already in place, under the new regulations for England’s third national lockdown, FoodCycle can continue to provide much-needed food to local communities.
FoodCycleFoodCycle
Speaking on the decision to keep services running, Mary McGrath MBE – CEO of FoodCycle says: “Our number one priority will always be the safety and welfare of our guests and volunteers and we will continue to work with our teams, volunteers and venues to maintain our high standards and keep everyone as safe as possible while delivering this vital service to vulnerable people across the country.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Under the new national lockdown restrictions, FoodCycle guests can continue to collect nutritious food for themselves and their households, and those unable to visit their local FoodCycle project due to self-isolating or shielding can ask a friend, neighbour or family member to collect on their behalf legally under the “reasonable excuse” category.
Those who fall under the category of critically vulnerable, or have been told to shield can also access extra provision through NHS Responders as part of the Check-in and Chat service.
Created in April 2020 in reaction to the first national lockdown, Foodcycle’s Check-in and Chat service is also open and is helping to combat the rising issue of social isolation during the pandemic by having volunteers call guests for a weekly natter.
ADVERTISEMENT
A FoodCycle guest who has made good use of the service said: “It makes me very happy that FoodCycle are still looking out for people and caring for the community during this time.”
In the past 365 days our volunteers dished out the equivalent of 475,000 meals to the vulnerable and saved over 200 tons of surplus food through a global pandemic, smiling despite face masks and social distancing
FoodCycle Manchester is currently operating its new project from The Inspire Centre in Levenshulme, and is also due to launch its weekly ‘Cook & Collect’ service on 14th January from 7.30pm – 8.30pm too.
You can find more information from the FoodCycle website here.
Trending
Manchester crowned UK’s best-value stag do destination for 2026
Emily Sergeant
Prague, Amsterdam, Benidorm, and now… Manchester?
Jetting off to some of Europe’s cheapest capital cities for a boozy night out with your mates before tying the knot is pretty common-place in the world of stag do culture nowadays.
But some new research has now revealed the UK cities that deliver a legendary last hurrah without the price tag, or the need to hop on a plane.
Chillisauce, the UK’s leading hen and stag organiser, has analysed 81,000+ recent group bookings alongside survey feedback from 4,738 stag groups, cross-referenced against live 2026 travel fares, accommodation, and pint prices.
To devise its top 10 list, real price data has been blended with verified group satisfaction to guarantee stags and their pals the best experience.
With the pull of a major city with music, sport, food, and nightlife without London prices, Manchester was crowned the best-value city for a stag do in 2026 overall.
Manchester has been crowned the UK’s best-value stag do destination for 2026 / Credit: Manchester City Council | shawnanggg (via Unsplash)
The average pint runs a little higher in Manchester than the smaller cities on the list, but groups rated the sheer scale and quality of the night out well above the cost, calling it ‘much more affordable than the South of England’ and ‘cheaper than London’.
For a weekend in Manchester, research found that the average cost per person includes £86.36 for accommodation, £36.66 for an activity, £25.08 for a drinks package, £29.35 for a meal, and the average pint coming in at £6.
“We send thousands of groups to Prague, Amsterdam, and Benidorm every year,” said Robyn Davis, Head of Stag and Hen at Chillisauce,”but Manchester keeps delivering nights out that groups tell us beat their expectations.
“There are also those only-in-Manchester touches too, like catching a match at Old Trafford or the Etihad on the same trip.
“Groups describe the locals as up for a laugh and the whole city as ‘built for a stag weekend,’ with a huge number of them already planning to go back, which is the real test of a great destination.”
Other northern destinations on the top 10 list include Newcastle, Leeds, and Liverpool.
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off
Emily Sergeant
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off.
Okay, so it’s not technically closing down per se, but the current LOFT premises off Hyde Road near Piccadilly will officially close doors on 30 September, as the business consolidates its operations and relocates to its newly completed headquarters over at Trafford Park.
Unlike a typical closing-down sale, the stock isn’t old or unwanted. Instead, it’s a live snapshot of LOFT’s day-to-day business, and everything must go.
LOFT is known for furnishing properties across the build-to-rent, student accommodation, co-living, private rented, and social housing sectors, and that constant turnover naturally generates surplus – whether it be project overstock, end-of-line pieces or discontinued items making way for new collections.
The move over to Trafford Park is said to be a moment to clear the warehouse ‘completely’ and start the new chapter with a clean slate.
Manchester furniture outlet LOFT is hosting a major closing-down sale with up to 70% off / Credit: Supplied
This means that everything, from sofas and beds, to dining sets, armchairs, and home accessories, must go before the move, with prices already reduced by 50 to 70% below RRP.
Benjamin Hall, who is the Founder and CEO of LOFT, says this is the ‘biggest and best value’ sale the company has ever offered.
He explained: “As we settle into our new home at Trafford Park, we want a completely clean slate. Whether you’re a homeowner after a one-off bargain, or a landlord, agent or developer furnishing multiple units on a budget, there has never been a better time to visit.”
Emily Sergeant -
13th January 2021 
