Colette and Laura, our members at the Altrincham hub, were recently interviewed by BBC Cost of Living correspondent, Colletta Smith about how they manage their budgets during the school holidays. The Bread and Butter Thing was delighted to help organise the visit, and the brilliant ways families are making food stretch when children are home for six long weeks of lunches and snacks.

As national attention focuses on the food inflation and welfare changes across the UK, we’ve issued a warning that vital government support is failing to reach the families it was designed to help. The complexity, poor promotion, and disconnection between services are locking people out of schemes that could make a real difference.

More than 4,000 families across the UK will be able to access food and essential support during the summer holidays, thanks to increased funding for The Bread and Butter Thing’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Around the Hub programme.

Award-winning affordable food charity, TBBT’s annual survey reveals that the vast majority of its members are worried about energy costs. With over 2500 people contributing from 54 low income communities across the north of England, the results show that many families will be pushed into debt and hardship.