From City Lights to Country Life: Meet Community Queen, Sue

“I know every single one of my members by name. They shouldn’t be just a name on a list. They can’t wait to tell me what’s been happening since I was last there. It’s was like seeing family. It’s hard sometimes but it’s worth it.”

Our Community Development and Distribution Officers are the magic-makers within the world of Bread and Butter. They come from all walks of life and have very different skillsets, but share the common bond that they all care about people. Enter Sue.

Chicken Town

Born in London during the 60s, the countryside soon beckoned city girl Sue. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she became one of the first ever female chicken farm managers in the UK. Thirty years later and tired of the farming life, Sue was ready for a change and decided to swop the south to the north and head to Manchester.

“Everyone said you won’t like Manchester, you belong in the country. But I believe home is what you make it. I didn’t know what I wanted to do next but I knew how to care for and grow things so went to my local church and volunteered there, helping some of the elderly.”

Always helping

Sue began an over 50s club but struggled to get any volunteers, “One day, I went to Llandudno with four wheelchairs and there was only me! I had to rotate them all around, one in the café, one on the beach, took one for lunch and left them all parked. But they loved it. These people had family that didn’t bother with them!”

So how did Sue find her way to Bread and Butter? “Someone from my church told me about it and thought I’d give it a whirl.” A few training days and a year later, she’s still here. “Time’s gone on and I now have five hubs which I love, look after and work hard for.”

What does good look like?

“To me, good is taking the best food you possibly can to your hubs and doing that every time. The members and volunteers are one person. As soon as I get there, I spend the first 20 minutes chatting with the volunteers, talking them through the food we have that day and what’s been happening in their lives. Whilst the volunteers are bag-packing, I spend another 20 minutes walking the queue and chatting with the members. I know all their names and their stories. I need to know what’s going on, so they know I’m there for them. Because you’ve spent this time, when something more important or significant is happening in their lives, they will come and tell you. If I’m off sick, I get phone calls – “where are you?” laughs Sue.

Once Sue knows someone, she has a better idea about how to help people. Especially when it comes to getting the right additional services in front of the right people. “One day, we had energy advisors visiting and since then 20 odd people in the past month have come to me and said how much they’ve been helped.”

Memorable members

When asked about any members that stick out for her, Sue smiles, “One of my members is a 70 year old man who’s holding up his whole family, both grown daughters, carer for his wife and raising his grandkids, one of which is a baby. I got him sorted with the Healthy Start card which has been a big help.”

She continues, “Then there’s Lynn, she cooks for over 60 pensioners on her own from her own home, and Glory and her husband who cook for 70 to 80 people who struggle from their community. None of them do it for the recognition. They do it because they love people and want to help. They don’t shout about it, they just get on with it. And I always try and help out where I can.”

“One of my Hyde members has set up a café that helps young men with mental issues. Its all out there and happening, you just have to talk to people,” says Sue. I don’t know what’s happened in this world. Because of my quiet country life where you knew everyone in the village and what was happening in their lives, I’ve brought that same approach here. Now people stand off, a lot of people don’t even know their neighbours now.”

The personal touch

“My husband told me I wouldn’t last a month!” Sue giggles, “He was telling me I wasn’t good with people. “You tell them how it is and some people don’t like that.” And he’s absolutely gobsmacked that I love this job. I might have the odd moan but I get stuck in and try my best everyday.”

“I went to one of my hubs the other day and I know every single one of them by name. Our members shouldn’t be just a name on a list. They couldn’t wait to tell me what had been happening since I was last there and it was like just meeting my family. And that’s what its like for me. It’s hard sometimes but it’s worth it.”

Listen to Sue’s podcast right here.