Culture shock, corner sofas and giant sausages
“The first thing I did after joining Bread and Butter as a volunteer was to throw away my corner sofa in my living room because I spent nearly two years on it. I didn't want to look at it anymore. I was nearly a month with no sofa. I didn't care. It just gave me bad memories.”
Twenty years ago, Aga made the brave move to relocate to the UK from Poland, in search of a better life. After a 26-hour bus ride, she settled in South Wales before eventually moving to Oldham in Greater Manchester. Like many immigrants, she faced the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, making new friends, and finding a sense of belonging. She found herself dealing with depression and the sudden loss of a close family member.
Feeling alone in a new country and struggling with her mental health, she didn’t know where to turn. Housing association, First Choice Homes, were very supportive and it was through them that she found the Bread and Butter Thing. Aga explains, “I had group therapy, individual therapy meetings. When I felt poorly, I started to search for help at some point and I picked up a leaflet about the bread and butter thing, I was so desperate to get out of the house to start doing something.”
A home from home
After becoming a member, she soon began volunteering at the hub and it gave her a new direction and a sense of purpose. Volunteering wasn’t just about giving back to others; it also provided Aga with a space where she could connect with people who understood her struggles. The affordable food for families meant that Aga could support her own family without the extra financial stress.
Over time, Aga formed close friendships with other volunteers, who became like a second family. These connections helped her regain her confidence and it was that community spirit, banter and laughs with her fellow Bread and Butterers that was key to her recovery and finding her smile again.
“It’s a beautiful team. I realize that most of people that volunteer usually have stories themselves that they will share with you. You know a little bit at first and then you get close and it's like a little family there. It's really lovely and the people you can rely on and you can just talk to. You know, it's the thought of them being there. They are my friends. I feel being looked after there. That's why I never left, despite getting a job.”
It's the journey, not the destination
As Aga’s confidence grew, so did her role within the charity. She applied for a job as a volunteering officer at Action Together and was offered the position. This shift from volunteer to staff member is a clear example of how community initiatives can not only provide support but also help people realize their potential.
“Someone told me that there was a volunteering officer position for Action Together, the charity. At first I was scared. I don't have any experience. I've never done it before. I was a chef all my life, but I wanted to re-qualify. I didn't want to work in a kitchen anymore and I thought God loves a trier!” laughs Aga.
“I went for an interview and the next day, I had a phone call to say that I've got the job! It turned out that everything that I've been through, my life journey and my involvement in volunteering services was the fundamental thing that actually helped me to get the job.”
Depression be gone!
When asked about how she’s coping with the current soaring energy and food prices, Aga says “COVID and that whole crisis got me to tie things up and just spend on essentials. The Bread and Butter Thing saved my life in many ways, particularly with my mental health at the time. Medical professionals would say feeling alone is more dangerous than smoking.
“Depression and anxiety gives you plenty of reasons not to do anything, and any reason is good for you. The first thing I did after joining Bread and Butter as a volunteer was to throw away my corner sofa in my living room because I spent nearly two years on it. I didn't want to look at it anymore. I was nearly a month with no sofa. I didn't care. It just gave me bad memories.”
But now she’s never been happier, “I'm not planning on changing anything. I'm absolutely happy at the moment. I’ll never leave volunteering for Bread and Butter. Even with my job, I warned them that I'm a volunteer, I do my two days and will continue!”
