CGI and NATS partner with FoodCycle: serving community, reducing waste, building connections

CGI and NATS volunteers support FoodCycle in Southampton

In October 2025, volunteers from CGI and NATS rolled up their sleeves at the Sholing Salvation Army in Southampton to support FoodCycle, a national charity tackling food waste, food poverty, and loneliness. Together, the teams delivered two evenings of community engagement that went far beyond cooking. It was about connection, compassion, and collaboration within the CGI and NATS relationship.

“At CGI, we believe in using our skills and energy to make a positive difference in the communities where we live and work,” said Stephen Vance, Director Consulting Services at CGI. “Volunteering with FoodCycle was a reminder of how small actions, like sharing time, food, and conversation, can have a real impact. It was humbling to see how much it meant to people.”

Building on ongoing ESG collaboration

The events formed part of CGI and NATS’s ongoing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) activities, focusing on community wellbeing and sustainability alongside the delivery of IT services that support NATS’s mission to keep the skies safe, and CGI’s Dream to build a company we can all be proud of.

Previous ESG initiatives between CGI and NATS have included tree planting, seagrass surveys, and beach cleans. This year, the focus turned to the local Sholing community, near NATS’s HQ in Whiteley. Around 15 CGI and NATS colleagues volunteered their time to support FoodCycle through two events. Over several days, they promoted FoodCycle’s mission locally, carried out a deep clean of the kitchens, and prepared and served freshly made three-course meals for local residents.

Two weeks of teamwork and community impact

Each week, the team welcomed around 35 guests from the Sholing area to enjoy a warm, nutritious meal made from surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste. The first week’s menu featured tomato soup, katsu curry, and caramelised banana dessert. The second week offered carrot and coriander soup, mushroom lasagna, and chocolate pudding with strawberries. Volunteers from both organisations worked side by side to prepare, cook, and serve the meals, ensuring every guest left feeling valued and connected.

“It was wonderful to see our NATS and CGI colleagues working together outside the office with such purpose and empathy,” said Emily Price, Director Analytics at NATS. “For us, this was about showing care for the community that surrounds us. It was great to have had the opportunity through our collaborative relationship with CGI to make this event a reality.”

A partnership grounded in shared values

Founded in 2009, FoodCycle operates across the UK to transform surplus food into nutritious meals and create welcoming spaces where people can eat and talk together. For many attendees, these meals are a vital source of nourishment and social connection. The partnership between CGI, NATS, and FoodCycle reflects shared values of social responsibility, collaboration, and sustainability, forming part of the ISO 44001 Joint Relationship Management Plan.

This initiative demonstrated how the CGI and NATS partnership extends beyond business outcomes. Working with FoodCycle offered a practical way to give back to the community, bringing the same teamwork and commitment that define the partnership into a local setting.

“Giving Something Back” has long been part of both organisations’ cultures, with engagement scores on community involvement improving in recent surveys. Events like this bring those values to life, turning corporate collaboration into meaningful local action. The atmosphere on both evenings was one of warmth and teamwork, as volunteers worked together, from washing vegetables to plating desserts, embodying the spirit of cooperation and care that FoodCycle represents.

For many participants, the experience was humbling and inspiring. It offered a hands-on opportunity to support the local community while strengthening bonds between the two organisations.

As one volunteer said, “It’s amazing how something as simple as sharing a meal can make such a difference.”

This FoodCycle partnership is a strong example of how CGI and NATS continue to advance their ESG commitments through practical, people-centered initiatives. Whether cleaning, cooking, or connecting, the shared efforts of both teams highlight the power of partnership in creating positive change within local communities.