How Partnerships Power The Bread and Butter Thing
Third Sector Podcast image from their website
On the Third Sector podcast, our CEO, Vic Harper talked about something that truly makes The Bread and Butter Thing tick: partnerships. Ever since we started back in 2016, we’ve grown into the UK’s largest B2C food charity, supporting around 100,000 families a week, but honestly, none of it would be possible without the people and organisations who work alongside us.
Different Types of Community Partnerships
Partnership isn’t just one thing. Sometimes it looks like a neighbour giving up a morning to help out. Sometimes it’s a council weaving us into their prevention plans. And sometimes it’s a retailer saying, “We’ve got surplus, can you take it today?” What ties it all together is simple: trust, reliability and a shared belief in helping communities help themselves.
Why Local Partnerships Matter
In communities, partnership is personal. Our hubs run from places people already trust, schools, churches, community centres, and the volunteers who keep everything moving are often local members themselves. Last year they gave over 161,000 hours of their time. No wonder 72 percent of our members feel more connected and 64 percent feel less lonely. And then there’s Big Brew Time, 52,000 hot drinks shared last year. Sometimes a cuppa really can make a world of difference.
How We Work With Local Authorities
Local authorities choose to work with us because we help families stay afloat. Together we’ve turned hubs into something more than food pick up points, they’ve become places where people can get support with energy bills, debt, housing or digital skills. Last year alone, 214 organisations came into hubs to offer help.
We’ve also worked with councils to widen the HAF offer, making sure more children get a good meal and a positive experience, even if they don’t tick the right eligibility boxes.
Our Work With Retailers, Growers and Manufacturers
Retailers, growers and manufacturers trust us because we’re fast, flexible and practical. If there’s good food going spare, we’ll find a way to get it into communities.
Partnership as the Heart of Our Model
Partnership is the thread that runs through everything we do. From a neighbour pouring tea at Big Brew Time to a national retailer calling with a last minute surplus, every partnership helps someone put food on the table and feel less alone. That’s what we talked about on the podcast, and it’s exactly why our model works.
