By all appearances, Colette had a stable, fulfilling life. A professional singer, vocal coach, and part-time care worker, she was raising two children in Altrincham and juggling a busy working schedule. But beneath the surface, she was facing a financial crisis that would reshape her life.

We’re calling on the Government to make life more affordable for working families struggling to keep their heads above water. Families just like support worker, James’s.  James lives with his partner and young son. But despite two incomes, life is a daily financial balancing act.

At The Bread and Butter Thing, we’re known for our food clubs, not for political stunts. But sometimes, when the reality on the ground is being ignored in Westminster, we must speak out, and raise our voices. That’s why we’re heading to Parliament. Not with placards and protest chants, but with a powerful visual of people barely keeping their heads above water. Because that's what life feels like for millions across the UK right now.

Volunteer van drivers and corporate volunteer teams we need you! Volunteers power our redistribution centres in Chilton, County Durham; Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester. Without them, we’d be lost. Join us for the day and see for yourself. Whatever you do, you will be making a real difference to the lives of our members in low-income communities.

Tucked away in leafy Cheshire, Broken Cross Primary's Headteacher Donna is leading a quiet revolution in how schools support struggling families. Like so many schools these days, it has become so much more than just a place for education.

We are excited to be opening our second food club in Liverpool next month. The ‘Kirkdale’ hub will sit in addition to the success of ‘Hillside High’ which launched in September 2024. With the backing of Comic Relief, the joy of bringing fresh, healthy, affordable food to the table for even more people in Liverpool is tangible!

"Smell it! Use your eyes and use your nose!" declares James, a 76-year-old retired engineer. Not one to shy away from sharing his- opinions, James’s remarkable life experience contributes to his no-nonsense, highly informed perspective on ‘smell by dates’, sustainability and generational attitudes towards food waste.

Penny Walters tells it like it is. It's this Northern grit, honesty and fearlessness that's made her the go-to community figure in Byker that she is today. Penny tells us about her incredible journey from working 70-hour weeks at a supermarket, surviving on pasta with margarine to speaking at Westminster about food insecurity as a Food Foundation ambassador.

For years, Marie, a retired nursery nurse, got by without knowing she was eligible for Pension Credit. This support could have helped ease the financial strain. Many older retirees, who aren’t always made aware of what they’re eligible for, leaving them to navigate the overcomplicated, jargon-filled system alone.

Our partnership with leading vegetable grower, Riviera Produce was always a special one. And now it’s award-winning! Together, we’ve developed a way to collect surplus crops and redistribute to our members, as well as creating a backhaul route to reduce emissions and transport costs.

As the government refreshes its National Food Strategy, we welcome the renewed focus and the calibre of those joining the Food Strategy Advisory Board. Recognising the links between food, health, and sustainability is long overdue. But let’s not ignore the uncomfortable truth: for many, unhealthy food isn’t a lifestyle choice. It’s what’s affordable.

Following the government recent announcements, we catch up with Kath who is living with multiple chronic health conditions and the fear of financial ruin if welfare reforms cut her benefits. Relying on her wife Viv as a full-time carer and Bread and Butter for affordable healthy food, they battle the overly complicated benefits system whilst struggling to eat healthily on a tight budget.

Ever wondered why a banana curves? Or how long it takes for a pineapple to mature before its voyage to the UK?  We catch up with Sophie and Shania from Fyffes for a glimpse behind the scenes of Europe's largest banana importer with a few weird and wonderful science secrets revealed along the way.

Welcome to our Social Impact Report 2024! Every year, we take a moment to reflect and listen closely to the voices of our members. This year, we were blown away by the response, with nearly 10,000 members sharing their stories with us.

This week we talk to Deano, a former pub manager whose life was unexpectedly turned upside down by the pandemic. With no family and few friends to rely on, his journey of resilience is pretty humbling. Join us as we chat with him about learning to live on a shoestring and what Bread and Butter means to him.

Meet Kelly, a spirited WASPI woman whose life took a life-altering turn after a carjacking incident. We caught up with Kelly about being at the mercy of government sudden shift in pension age, the aftermath of a traumatic event, chocolate blancmange and side hustling on the small screen.

As a single parent, Kiera now knows all too well the juggling act of balancing work, childcare, and keeping the household running on a tight budget. Having left home at 18, she’s learnt a few life lessons the hard way. And quickly! Kiera shares her past struggles with debt and changing financial habits for a brighter future.

With the UK facing rising obesity rates, we are proving that affordable access to fresh, nutritious food can make a profound difference. Our new data shows that half of our members report improved diet since joining, with 79% saying they now eat more fruit and vegetables —transforming both their diets and their lives.

Twenty years ago,  single mum Aga made the brave move to relocate from Poland to the UK in search of a better life with her children. She faced the challenges of adjusting to a new culture whilst dealing with grief and depression in a new country. But has now made a home from home.

Imagine managing a family's food shop on a razor-thin budget as food and energy prices continue to soar. Claire is navigating maternity leave on a limited budget but also the guilt of overshadowing others in need and how shopping habits evolve when essentials become luxuries.