A quarter of Britons eat alone seven times a week, and 96% have never heard of community dining, yet nearly 1 in 2 would go if one ran locally. Those findings from a FoodCycle survey gave us the story for Blue Monday, along with a call for more support: 3 in 5 Britons think councils do too little for community dining during the cost-of-living crisis. FoodCycle's chief executive went on air across a radio day of interviews plus TV, explaining how a free, nutritious shared meal tackles loneliness and food waste, and encouraging listeners to volunteer or donate. The campaign secured 18 items of radio and TV coverage reaching 3.3 million people, including London Live, BBC Radio Solent and BBC Radio WM.
Greatest Hits Radio Coventry and WarwickshireCommercial radio
Listen
London Live · 5m 04s
BBC Radio Solent · 1m 16s
0:00 / 1m 16s
BBC Radio WM · 3m 42s
0:00 / 3m 42s
BBC Radio Newcastle · 4m 23s
0:00 / 4m 23s
The story
FoodCycle, Blue Monday
The aim
FoodCycle wanted to highlight the benefits of community dining and encourage people to volunteer with or donate to the charity.
The message
Community dining brings people together over a free, nutritious meal, tackling loneliness and food waste during the cost-of-living crisis, and eating together benefits mental health.
The angle
A FoodCycle survey found 3 in 5 Britons think councils do too little to support community dining during the cost-of-living crisis, a quarter eat alone seven times a week, and 96% have never heard of community dining, yet nearly 1 in 2 would go if one ran locally.
On air
FoodCycle's chief executive
The result
18 items of coverage reaching 3.3 million, including London Live, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio WM, BBC Radio Newcastle.
About Blue Monday
Blue Monday is the name given to the third Monday in January, promoted as the most depressing day of the year. It began in 2005 as a press release for the travel company Sky Travel and has no scientific basis, but charities now use it to start conversations about mental health. Stations plan their coverage of it in advance, which makes it a strong hook for a broadcast PR campaign.
Planning Blue Monday for 2027?
Blue Monday next falls on Monday 18 January 2027. Talk to the team about a broadcast PR campaign that gets your spokesperson on radio and TV.
