Podcast
‘A Slice of Bread and Butter’ tells the stories of the people that make Bread and Butter what it is and about life in our communities.
Giving voice to some of The Bread and Butter Thing’s members and volunteers, these are the everyday stories about the impact of Bread and Butter’s work and why people join our affordable food scheme.
Listen to episodes below or like and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or where you get your podcasts!
When Life Changes Course: Navigating Benefits While Caring for a Loved One
When life throws a curveball, navigating support systems shouldn't feel like scaling a brick wall. Yet for John, whose partner's sudden health decline forced him to abandon his teaching career and become a full-time carer, that's exactly what happened.
Community Catalyst: How Food Creates Transformation
"It's not just the food—it's reinvigorating community spaces." These powerful words from Paul Harris, headteacher at Carhill Community Primary School in Gateshead, capture the transformative impact The Bread and Butter Thing has had on his community in just three short weeks.
Financially Stuck: The Hidden Struggle of Working Families
What happens when a healthcare professional with a Master's degree finds herself struggling to put food on the table? Emma Vinton's story challenges our assumptions about who needs community food support in today's economy.
The Benefits Labyrinth: Tracy Finds Her Way Through
When Tracy moved from Working Tax Credits to Universal Credit, nothing about her circumstances changed – she was still a single mum working as a support worker on national living wage. Yet suddenly, she found herself without access to free prescriptions, dental care and glasses that she'd previously relied on. "I had emergency dental treatment more or less as soon as I migrated over to universal credit... and I had to pay for it."
Lost and Found: Farid's Journey
What drives a 15-year-old boy to flee his home country alone, crossing dangerous borders in darkness to reach safety thousands of miles away? For Farid, it was the Taliban's targeting of his family due to his father and brothers' work with Afghan special forces.
Food clubs offer more than just affordable food—they build communities.
Tracy's powerful story exposes the harsh reality many working parents face in today's economy. As a single mother of five working as a property assistant for the Council, Tracy embodies the growing demographic of "working poor" .
From Social Worker to Service User
Lorraine's journey from social worker to service user reveals the profound ways life can change when health challenges arise unexpectedly. After receiving six different diagnoses in six months, this Manchester-born professional found herself navigating the very support systems she once guided others through.
When full-time work still isn’t enough
This week we talk David - data analyst by day, heavy metal musician by night. David and his wife both work full-time professional jobs and live modestly. Yet they frequently find themselves struggling financially. How is this possible?
When debt becomes your comfort zone, change feels like the real risk
Meet Tracy, whose metal heart valve ticks audibly throughout our conversation - a constant reminder of the life-threatening surgery that became a turning point in her already challenging financial journey.
Beyond Food and Fuel: Working Families', Hidden Struggles
Vic and Mark welcome Hayley, Assistant Chief Executive at Citizens Advice Manchester, for a candid conversation about the changing face of financial hardship in Britain today.
Can We Fix a Food System Built for Quantity Not Quality?
This week we talk to Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation. We talk about their Broken Plate report and the difficulties of affording nutritious food and the three A’s.
Celebrating Erin: A community star this National Volunteer Week
Not only is it National Volunteer Week but it's also our 50TH EPISODE! So we had to make it an extra special one. So this week, it's all about Erin, sign language interpreter by day, community hero by heart who set up our Thorney hub. Join Mark and Vic as they chat about skipping meals, hiding food insecurity from your kids and parsnips!
From Poland to Manchester: How volunteer Zosia found purpose in giving back
Behind every food bag at Bread and Butter is a dedicated volunteer like Zosia. Having escaped living under martial law in Poland, Zosia arrived in the UK in 1982 and immediately took on multiple jobs without seeking government support. Join Mark and Alex as they talk about managing on a modest pension, property prices and finding purpose in giving back.
A Slice of Life Special: Singing through struggle and working three jobs
As our focus on working families continues, this week we meet singer, vocal coach and part-time carer, Colette. Despite juggling three jobs, a mortgage, and raising two children, she struggled to stay afloat and was without a permanent home for five months. Join us as we talk ‘mystery dinners’ and how quickly life can change.
A Slice of Life Special: “I lived off beans so my son could eat” says Carer James
As part of our Slice of Life campaign, we meet James, a support worker and young dad doing everything he can to make sure his little boy is well fed. Join Mark and Vic as they chat about what poverty really looks like today, the toll of constant financial pressure, expensive childcare and trying to stay afloat.
Working full time, still struggling: What happens when wages don't stretch
From hospital wards to hub volunteering, Sarah bulldozes her way through life with tonnes of energy, honesty and humour. Join Mark and Alex as they chat about the reality of working full-time yet still struggling, challenge assumptions about who needs food support and Pickles the wolf-whistling parrot.
Food insecurity in schools: One headteacher's mission
Tucked away in leafy Cheshire, Broken Cross Primary's Headteacher Donna is leading a quiet revolution in how schools support struggling families. Join Mark and Vic as they chat with Donna about the growing pressures on working families and why Bread and Butter is such an important part of their school community.
Smell it, don't bin it: One man's crusade against expiry dates
"Smell it, smell it, use your eyes and use your nose!" declares James, this week's entertaining podcast guest. Join Mark and Alex as they enjoy James's opinions on sustainability, food systems and generational attitudes toward food waste.
From empty cupboards to Westminster: Meet the Godmother of Byker
Penny Walters is a force to be reckoned with. Join Mark and Alex as they chat to Byker hub leader Penny, about her incredible journey, from working 70-hour weeks surviving on pasta with margarine to speaking at Westminster as a Food Foundation ambassador.
Team Talk: What goes on behind the scenes at Bread and Butter HQ
The final in our Team Talk mini series takes you behind the scenes to hear directly from the team at Bread and Butter HQ. Whilst these guys might not be out in our hubs everyday, they're busy making sure that things get to where they need to be and at the right time.