Connection Through Food | Sophie Tebbetts | Leading Lights Podcast
From Leading Lights by Abi Mellor from MOREVER
April 7, 2026 · 43 min · Season 2 · Episode 19
About this episode
Sophie Tebbetts discusses the impact of FoodCycle in transforming surplus food into community meals that address hunger and loneliness.
In this episode of Leading Lights , Abi is joined by Sophie Tebbetts, CEO of FoodCycle , the national charity turning surplus food into shared meals that tackle both hunger and loneliness . Sophie traces her lifelong connection to food – from busy family meals growing up as one of six children to her first job in a pub kitchen. Those early experiences shaped a belief that food has the power to bring people together. Before joining FoodCycle, Sophie worked in the third sector with the British Red Cross and later launched her own food start-up. But it was FoodCycle’s mission that truly captured her imagination. She shares how the charity transforms food that would otherwise go to waste into three-course community meals , cooked and served by volunteers across the UK. The impact goes far beyond nutrition — creating spaces where people connect, share conversation, and build community. Sophie also reflects on leadership, the power of volunteering, and why community dining can change lives in ways statistics alone can’t capture . This is a conversation about food, community, and leadership rooted in purpose . Find out more about FoodCycle https://foodcycle.org.uk/ Follow FoodCycle on…
People in this episode
Host: Abi Mellor
Guest: Sophie Tebbetts
Topics covered
- food
- community
- leadership
- volunteering
- hunger
- loneliness
Keywords
- FoodCycle
- community meals
- hunger
- loneliness
- volunteering
- leadership
- food connection
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: FoodCycle, British Red Cross
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