Less like a food club, more like a family

The Bread and Butter Thing are celebrating the power and importance of community for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing.

The Bread and Butter Thing is the largest member-based food redistribution charity in the UK, working in 147 locations across 29 local authorities from the East Midlands to North Tyneside. They help food budgets go further by providing fresh, healthy, affordable food to their 100,000 members in low-income communities. 

The food club, based in Tameside at St George’s Church, is run by food redistribution charity The Bread and Butter Thing and supports 87,673 households across 29 regions. These food clubs are a gateway to their local community, allowing members to meet with others and form meaningful friendships, which has deeply rooted its members and volunteers to the club, the wider community and to each other.  

35-year-old Sam is an unemployed, single parent to 6-year-old daughter Maddison and her teenage son. She recently moved to the area and it was the encounter with fellow member and volunteer Kev which improved her personal circumstances drastically.

Prior to the meeting, Sam had never heard of the Bread and Butter Thing or their food clubs. She said: “I never knew you could come here, have a chat with people and make friends!

"I don’t have family in this area, so community is so important to me, and it’s amazing what people do in this area.”

Maddison is also a fan of the food club especially when her mum brings home raspberries to make smoothies with!  

Member of The Bread and Butter Thing - Sam. Credit: The Bread and Butter Thing

92% of Bread and Butter member’s would eat more fruit & veg if it were available and affordable for them. 

The domino effect of chatting to your neighbour about the food club has raised even more awareness and accessibility to those who need it. 81% of it’s members say they have access to better food than they could otherwise afford.  

Kev, is a self-employed gardener and former acting agent. He lived and worked in London for over 30 years until he experienced a trauma in adulthood which resulted in him moving back up North and rebuilding his life. He was walking his dog in the church grounds and doing some voluntary gardening when he first heard of his food club and out of pure curiosity, he thought he would take a closer look. Fast forward three years and Kev is the BUZZ of the hub! He is running food bags up to members in their cars who struggle to carry them, with his gorgeous 5-month-old cocker spaniel puppy Billie in tow. “We all have mental health, so I concentrate on looking after everyone else!” Kev like 64% of it’s members, feels less alone since joining Bread and Butter. “Before I joined, I didn’t know anyone, I have been made to feel so welcome and I have met so many lovely people.”  

Member of The Bread and Butter Thing - Kev. Credit: The Bread and Butter Thing

Bread and Butter’s Chief Executive, Vic Harper said: “We’re all about helping food budgets go further, so we’re really pleased to have the opportunity to support more communities in Liverpool. Bread and Butter Thing is about reducing the need for emergency food provision, increasing access to nutritious food and building strong communities.

"73% of our members tell us that since joining Bread and Butter, they don’t skip as many meals as they used to. By shopping with us, members save on their food budgets with the added benefits of better quality and a bigger variety of food. This leads to healthier lifestyles, which frees up the budget for other household priorities.

“We often get asked where our food comes from. We work closely with big supermarkets like Morrisons, Co-op and Sainsbury’s, all kinds of manufacturers, and even farmers who provide us with their surplus produce.

"So, our members get to do their bit for the environment too by stopping excess food going to waste.” 

There is no joining criteria. Anyone interested in using Bread and Butter’s affordable food clubs just needs to register as a member. To do this, you can text 07860 063304 with their name, postcode and hub they would like to join e.g. Waterside.

Once registered, members receive a weekly text offering the food service which they can then collect from their hub every week. 

72% of Bread and Butter members feel more involved with the community, like Alison. She’s 55 and recently unemployed due to her mental health, so her food club is massively important to her.

She has found solace in her friendships that have grounded her and introduced her to the food club and a wider community of people. The proximity of her club to her home and the alleviation of some financial strain to her and her family, she said, is everything.

She recalled: “We had an abundance of carrots one week, so I have been enjoying experimenting with cooking!”

Alison is also passionate about reducing food waste and encouraging her family to do the same, so is setting the example to them all. Friendship and shared experiences have shaped Alison’s positive outlook on life as she continues to spread the good word of food clubs.  

The service is reliant on the dedication and enthusiasm of its volunteers, with over 1,000 people giving their time each week. Whether it’s at one of the hubs or getting involved at the warehouse, anyone interested in volunteering can find out more and get in touch through Bread and Butter’s website at Contact Us – The Bread and Butter Thing. 

Credit: The Bread and Butter Thing