Connection Through Food | Sophie Tebbetts | Leading Lights Podcast

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 FoodCyclehttps://foodcycle.org.uk/Follow FoodCycle on social mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodcyclehq/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/foodcycle/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodcycleTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodcyclehqFoodCycle community meals bring people together for good food and conversation. We serve free, wholesome meals made from food that would have gone to waste, prepared by volunteers and open to everyone. FoodCycle is about more than food – we create a cycle of positive change – reducing food waste and hunger, tackling loneliness, supporting mental health and encouraging healthy eating and sustainable living.Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch future episodes, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing, Fundraising or Comms at a charity?Come along to the MOREVER Meetup, a welcoming space to connect with other women working creatively in the charity sector.Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER, an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.www.morever.co.ukLinksAbout FoodCycleEnjoyed this conversation?