Meet Kiran: a young volunteer turning values into action
At just 15, Kiran wanted his Duke of Edinburgh volunteering to mean something. At Felix he found a mission that matched his values, and a community that inspired him to go even further.
From sorting surplus food to conquering a half-marathon, Kiran’s shown how young people can play a powerful role in tackling food waste.
Finding the right place to make a difference
When Kiran began looking for somewhere to volunteer for his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award, he knew he wanted to do more than tick a box. He wanted to help people directly and take action on something he cared about: food waste. The idea that perfectly good food could go to people who need it struck a chord with the young volunteer.
I really wanted to do something beneficial to help people and make some difference in the world around me. When I heard about Felix, I was immediately sold by the amazing work they do saving food from landfill and redistributing it to communities.
Kiran joined the West London depot in early 2026 – his first time in a warehouse environment. From sorting surplus food, to packing deliveries and working alongside other volunteers who shared his drive, he embraced it all with enthusiasm.
Seeing the scale of surplus first hand
One of the biggest surprises for Kiran was the sheer volume of perfectly good food that would otherwise go to waste. He remembers tipping thousands of items onto conveyor belts, loading vans stacked with rescued food, and feeling part of something bigger.
I loved the physical element of the volunteering, by sorting out the monumental amounts of perfectly good food. It was a surprise to me just how much surplus food there was. I would either pack it into the fridge or we’d use a machine to tip the 1000s of items onto a conveyor belt ready to load into vans.
He also found joy in the people around him: friendly volunteers, supportive staff, and a shared commitment to helping others in their community.
Kiran found the amount of surplus food in the warehouse one of the most surprising parts of volunteering at Felix
From the depot floor to the finish line
Inspired by his time at the depot, Kiran decided to take on a new challenge: running the Hackney Half Marathon with his dad, Baiju (also pictured above) in support of Felix. Running had been a passion for both of them, and this felt like the perfect next step.
On 17 May 2026, they crossed the finish line having raised an incredible £1,703, enough to provide 5,000 meals.
The run was amazing and the atmosphere and support incredible, but possibly the best thing was the feeling of accomplishment at the end. It felt even better because I knew first hand the monumental affect this would have on the thousands of people who would receive food as a result of the money.
A young Londoner leading by example
Kiran came to Felix wanting to make a difference, and left having done exactly that. From sorting surplus food to conquering a half marathon, he’s shown how young people can play a powerful role in their community.
Every action helps put meals on the table
How you can get involved