About

We are a charity organisation that was founded in 2020 with the mission to redistribute surplus supplies to food banks and help combat food poverty and insecurity. We believe that no one should have to go hungry and we are committed to doing our part to make sure that everyone has access to the essentials they need.

Our Objectives

Our objectives are simple yet powerful. We work tirelessly to:

• Distribute food and other supplies to those struggling with food poverty and insecurity.
• Minimise food wastage (through redistribution)
• Create a more efficient logistics operation for food banks by delivering in bulk using larger vehicles. One van can replace at least 12 standard cars.

Our Story so Far

Our story began in the midst of the first Covid lockdown when we started delivering prepared meals to those in need, including NHS key workers, hospices, and food banks. As we grew and evolved, we shifted our focus to supporting larger bulk deliveries to food banks and formed a partnership with Morrisons in St Albans.

In February 2022, we organized the contribution of multiple pallets of food and baby supplies to be flown out to Ukrainian refugees at the Romanian border.

We formally registered as a charity in July 2022 and continue our vital work to support those in need.

Our Success so Far

Since starting in April 2020, we estimate to have distributed over 800 tonnes of food to support the equivalent of 2,500,000 visits to the food banks we support. We currently support up to 27,500 people per week - as estimated by our food bank beneficiaries.

Our efforts have been recognized by the community, and in early 2022, we received an award from the Mayor of Barnet Council for Outstanding Community Service.

We are honored to be able to make a difference in the lives of so many and we will continue to work tirelessly to support those in need. Join us in making a difference, together we can create a brighter future for all.

Our Trustees

Marcus Ardeman

Meet Marcus, a trustee of Volunteers on Wheels. Marcus has been a philanthropist since his teenage years, and has always been passionate about giving back to his community. He has been actively involved with various charities and is proud to be a founding member of the Volunteers on Wheels team. He is married with two teenagers, and his eldest child has just finished her first year of university and has also proudly volunteered with VoW in the past. Marcus brings a wealth of experience, dedication and passion to our team and continues to support VoW’s mission and vision.

Mary McDonagh

Meet Mary, another trustee of Volunteers on Wheels. Mary has always had a passion for giving back to her community. She started volunteering in her early 20s and found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience. However, it was during the pandemic when she was furloughed that gave her the inspiration to do more. She has been actively involved in delivering food to vulnerable people and working with various aspects of food banks for several years. Mary brings her dedication to helping others and her commitment to community service to VoW.

Peter Phillips (Chair and Founder)

Meet Peter, the founder and chair of trustees of Volunteers on Wheels. Peter is a dedicated philanthropist with a heart for giving back to his community. He is a father of two and a dog owner, and recently retired as a chartered surveyor. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our organization, having served as a trustee of a large UK disability charity, as well as being a trustee of a small family charity and another charitable trust. Peter’s passion for helping others and his commitment to community service make him a valuable asset to our team and a driving force behind our overwhelming success.

Gary Weinstein

Meet Gary, a trustee and dedicated volunteer who has been actively involved with community organizations since his childhood. He has a wealth of experience in community service and has served as a board member for his local synagogue. In addition, he is a volunteer with the Ambulance Wish Foundation UK. Gary is a family man, who is married to Melanie and is a father of 4 children and a grandfather to 4 grandsons. He brings his passion for helping others and his commitment to community service to VoW.