Ian White, a 61-year-old grandfather from Sheffield, says volunteering with food charity FoodCycle helped him recover from severe loneliness and depression after his marriage ended. He had felt suicidal and isolated, but says regular communal meals gave him friendships, purpose and improved mental wellbeing; he now volunteers to support others.

After separating from his wife, White lost 8st (51kg) in a year while eating poorly. FoodCycle turns surplus food into free three-course meals, and White attended Tuesday sessions for more than two years before joining the front-of-house team; the charity is seeking adult volunteers across several Yorkshire cities and served more than 7,000 meals through eight weekly clubs in 2025.