The hubs are brilliant. I really love the service that Bread and Butter provide. It's really good - really useful for a lot of people… Our main aim is to support people and show people that there's help. So if we're able to talk to them and show them that there's support with fuel vouchers and energy efficiency measures and things like that, the two kind of go hand in hand.

Shammy Walton - Green Doctor, Groundwork
“One of our highlights of the past year has been working alongside the fantastic team at TBBT, to raise awareness of the free support services available to unemployed and under-employed people in north Manchester. In November, our team embarked upon a week-long roadshow, visiting a number of TBBT sites, receiving a great reception. It has been fantastic to connect with members, helping many people to explore new employment opportunities and move forwards on their journeys. With more activity planned for January 2023, we’re really looking forward to engaging with even more people, and continuing this great partnership.”

Tim O’Neill - Operations Manager at Yes Manchester CIO
“Working at TBBT’s hubs is very effective. On my first visit to Lostock alone, I picked up a week’s worth of referrals in an hour. It is hugely beneficial to be able to meet so many people face to face in a place where they feel comfortable and are happy to chat. It delivers positive impact for all of us.”

Gary Smith - Employment and Skills Service, Trafford Housing Trust
Going to the hubs consistently has shown me how powerful it is to bring the support to where people are already. It is changing the way we're thinking about how can we make therapy more accessible to people... And we just want to keep growing that partnership now, keep the conversations going, help more people see who we are.

Paula Ungureanu - NHS Manchester Talking Therapies

A more holistic offer

We know affordable food makes a real difference. It helps people stay steady, eat a bit better and take the edge off each week. We also know, on its own, it is not always enough.

A lot of the households we see are juggling a lot, often with not much wiggle room. Even when help is out there, it does not always land where it should. In fact, 24% of people are not confident they are getting the benefits they are entitled to.

That is not because people do not want support. It is because it can be hard to find, hard to access, or just one more thing to deal with when life already feels full.

Making support easier to reach

Our hubs are more than a place to pick up food. They are part of the weekly routine. Same place, same time, familiar faces. People feel comfortable. Many come for the shop, but they stay for the chat.

We work with brilliant partners who can help with things like health, getting online, energy bills, sorting out debt, and making sure people are getting the money they should be.

It is about joining things up, removing barriers and making it easier.

Why it works so well

Anyone can come to Bread and Butter. There is no referral, no eligibility, no hoops to jump through. That means that people tend to engage earlier - not when everything has already gone wrong, but when things are starting to feel a bit tight.

Members trust Bread and Butter hubs and feel part of a community, surrounded by people facing similar challenges at the same time, which makes starting conversations about available support feel natural and easy.

Our amazing volunteers are part of that community so the conversations do not just stop when you leave. They carry on, naturally, week to week.

Three individuals sitting behind tables with icons on front, representing community, finance, and energy, smiling and engaging in a discussion or presentation.

Fancy working with us?

If you are looking to reach people in a way that actually works, we would love to chat.

Whether you are already delivering support or thinking about how you could, we can help you make it land well, feel right, and reach the people who need it most.

Email us

Podcast

Hear it from our partners

A Slice of Bread and Butter is our long-running podcast series, sharing stories from members, volunteers, and partners who make up the Bread and Butter family.

Hear directly from some of the organisations we work with about what it is like to show up in our hubs, how conversations land, and the difference it makes.