A Slice of Bread and Butter

This week we talk to Deano, a former pub manager whose life was unexpectedly turned upside down by the pandemic. At 66, Deano found himself unemployed after a lifetime of hard work in various roles. With no family and few friends to rely on, his journey of resilience is pretty humbling. Join Mark and Vic as they chat with him about learning to live on a shoestring, creative meal combinations and w...

Kiera juggles the demands of being a young single mum and part-time care work but still finds time to volunteer with Bread and Butter at Broken Cross Primary School. Join Mark and Vic as they chat to Kiera about why community is so important to her, past struggles with debt and changing financial habits for a brighter future.

As everyday life becomes more entwined with AI, Alex and Mark catch up with Salford pensioner and grandmother Gill (and her little dog Jesse), to chat about the feeling of being left behind in an increasingly online world. Not one to let these things get her down, Gill shares how she overcame cancer with the help of healthy food, her batch-cooking top tips and how much she looks forward to hub day...

Twenty years ago,  single mum Aga made the brave move to relocate from Poland to the UK in search of a better life with her children. After a 26-hour bus ride, a brief stint in South Wales, she eventually moved to Oldham. Join Mark and Vic as they chat to Aga about the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, dealing with grief and depression in a new country. But don't worry, there's a...

Imagine managing a family's food shop on a razor-thin budget as food and energy prices continue to soar. Join Mark and Vic as they chat to Claire (featuring baby Cassidy!) as she opens up about navigating maternity leave on a limited budget but also the guilt of overshadowing others in need and how shopping habits evolve when essentials become luxuries.

Steve is one of our own. He volunteers with us five days a week and is a big part of the Bread and Butter family.  He worked for years as a self-employed decorator locally and was forced to retire due to health issues and the loss of his beloved dog Charlie. Steve needed to escape his empty house and found purpose volunteering here with us. Join Alex and Mark as they chat to Steve about why volunt...

Welcome to our Christmas edition. If you’re feeling the festive pinch, you’re not alone. Sarah is a single mum of four who is choosing to look on the bright side of Christmas despite a tough year. She’s worked hard to overcome severe depression and PTSD and has regained her confidence thanks to volunteering at Bread and Butter. Join Mark and Alex as they chat to Sarah who’s turned her trauma into...

Imagine having to give up your career, move between temporary accommodation whilst looking after your twin babies, all on your own? Join Alex and Mark as they chat to the ever optimistic Julcine, a young mum excited for a Christmas where they feel well-fed, safe and warm.  She's working hard to turn hardship into hope with a big smile on her face and even bigger dreams for her little family&a...

From Florida to Manchester, homelessness to harmony, join Alex and Mark as they chat to Nzara about how music and food have become her therapy. She arrived in the UK with only enough money to see her through two weeks and has since built up a community from scratch through cooking. Despite daily battles with her mental health, Nzara refuses to let it get her down and continues on her search to bal...

It's a full house for this week's podcast as we have Vic, Mark, Alex and new Trustee Simone from Diageo for the occasion. Join us as we meet Holly, an inspiring mother of four who volunteers at her local hub every Friday, while managing her household on a tight budget. From bulk buying to finding the best deals, Holly is a whizz at keeping her family well-fed on very little. You may want...

What happens when you suddenly lose your main source of income as a working parent? Join Mark and Alex as they catch up with self-employed Niamh, as she shares her story of keeping her head above water whilst balancing being a toddler mum, extortionate nursery fees and rising mortgage rates.

Join Mark and Vic as they chat with father and son duo, James and Braith, about the trials and tribulations of being a young disabled person in Trafford, Hannah the wonder dog and how its little things that play a big part in their happiness. 

The Bread and Butter Thing has become so much more than just food since it's launch in 2016. So much so, that our hubs have become the perfect space for other like-minded organisations to reach our members. Join Mark and Becca as they chat to Ellen and Katie from Your Home Better as they share how simple home improvements can help stretch budgets and improve health.

Have you ever wondered how pensioners manage to make ends meet on limited income as living costs continue to rise? Join Mark and Alex as they chat to Kim, a resilient grandmother who should have retired but continues to work as a nanny aged 68.  Kim opens up about navigating life and financial hurdles on a tight budget, highlighting the broader issues faced by many who find themselves just above t...

From city slicker to country bumpkin to community queen, enjoy hearing about CDDO Sue's life journey with Mark and Vic. As one of the first female chicken farmers in the country, Sue doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Join us as she discusses the loss art of communication and the importance of taking the time to chat and remembering people's names. 

We're back! After a bit of a hiatus, our Slice of Life podcast returns with Mark and a new voice, Alex the Marketing Manager. Join them for well deserved sit down with one of Bread and Butter's long-standing Community Development and Distribution Officers Jenny, to talk about making a difference, the importance of humour and spring onion juice.

Why is a food charity concerned with digital exclusion? Join Mark and Fiona for a chat about TBBT's Connecting with Confidence project  and find out why getting online has transformed TBBT member Gemma's life.

In the grand finale of TBBT's National Volunteers' Week, Mark and Fiona chat to some of the volunteers responsible for keeping the charity on the straight and narrow - its Trustees. Food guru Graeme reveals the geeky appeal of a warehouse, Frances talks about the joys of owning a therapy dog, Inga revels in asking the tricky questions, and Geoffroy has a call to action - the time is now!...

In the third National Volunteers' Week special, Mark and Fiona go behind the scenes and into the depths of the Trafford warehouse to meet Andrew, one of TBBT's most long-standing volunteers. The former teacher turned tour guide recalls life at Bowlers Exhibition Centre, the occasional need to chase a van and some top tips for a visit to  Manchester.

Mark and Fiona meet the team at Old Leake in Lincolnshire - one of TBBT's newest hubs. Hub Leader Lisa, volunteers Fiona and Graham and TBBT's Head of Region for the East Midlands, Rachael, all contribute to this second National Volunteers' Week special chatting about what makes Old Leake a special place to be.

It's National Volunteers' Week and Mark and Fiona kick off TBBT's celebrations with Marie from County Durham, one of TBBT's brilliant volunteer drivers. Together they chat about the joys of being behind the wheel, why volunteering is good for you and getting a degree as a grandma.

Join Mark and Fiona for the final of the pod's Impact Report specials. This week's guest is Joan from County Durham talking about her work in the community as a volunteer carer, working with street kids in India and her mountainous hobby.  

Mark and Fiona are joined by a group of volunteers from TBBT's Dallam hub in Warrington - Rachael, Sara, Gemma and Gary - to learn how volunteering with TBBT got them back to school and on to work.

Mark and Fiona are joined by Steven from Darlington in this second Impact Report special episode. They talk more facts and figures from the 2022 member survey, coping with life's curve balls and the best way to eat blue cheese. 

As TBBT launches the results of its 2022 member survey and impact report, Mark and Fiona discuss the headlines, the stats and what's in store for the months ahead.