
A Slice of Bread and Butter
The voice of The Bread and Butter Thing - with stories from the frontline of the cost of living crisis from one of the UK's leading food charities.
Episodes
45 episodes
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. Like so many schools these days, it offers so much more than education. With nearly half of ...
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26:54

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. After precisely "50 years, 9 months and 13 days" in engineering across the Merchant Navy, Army, and food production industries, James...
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22:06

From empty cupboards to Westminster: Meet the Godmother of Byker
Penny Walters tells it like it is. It's this Northern grit, honesty and fearlessness that's made her the go-to community figure in Byker that she is today. Join Mark and Alex as they chat with Penny about her incredible journey from working 70-...
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21:53

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...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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21:15

Team Talk: The secret sauce behind connecting communities through food
What happens when affordable food becomes the catalyst for community connection? In the second of our Team Talk podcast mini series, we catch up with some of the seasoned veterans of Bread and Butter and our Chair of Trustees to unpick the magi...
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17:40

Team talk: When customer services meets community impact
This week's podcast lands with a bit of a difference. Mark and Vic are joined by guest host, Frazer McKinstry from Swissport along with a few of our newest team members for a noisy sharing of life stories. And of course there's a special appear...
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21:09

At breaking point: The reality of cutting disability benefits
Ahead of this week's government announcements, Mark and Vic catch up with Kath, who is living with multiple chronic health conditions and the fear of financial ruin if welfare reforms cut her benefits. Relying on her wife Viv as a full-ti...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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20:26

PARTNER SPECIAL: The science secrets behind the humble banana with Fyffes
Ever wondered why a banana curves? Or how long it takes for a pineapple to mature before its voyage to the UK? Join Mark and Justin as they get geeky about tropical fruit with Sophie and Shania from Fyffes. Enjoy a glimpse behind th...
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20:12

Paws, pension credits and being a good neighbour: Meet Marie
This week, Mark and Alex sit down with Marie, a dog-loving, community-driven retired nursery nurse who’s only recently discovered pension credits after months of financial struggle. Tune in as we chat about the importance of being a good neighb...
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18:15

IMPACT SPECIAL Part 2: Affordable nutrition for thriving communities with Dr. Megan Blake
Welcome to the second part of our Slice of Bread and Butter podcast Impact specials! Once again, we’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Megan Blake, Senior Lecturer and Food Insecurity Scholar from the University of Sheffield. This time, we’re chatt...
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29:17

IMPACT SPECIAL Part 1: Revolutionising food support with Dr. Megan Blake
Welcome to the first edition of our Impact special two-part Slice of Bread and Butter podcast! This week, we are joined by our friend and all round accessible food expert, Dr. Megan Blake from the University of Sheffield. As part of ou...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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29:34

Pensions, pain and passion: The Chronicles of Kelly
Meet Kelly, a spirited WASPI woman whose life took a life-altering turn after a carjacking incident. We caught up with Kelly about being at the mercy of government sudden shift in pension age, the aftermath of a traumatic event, chocolate blanc...
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25:34

Surviving on 70 Pence a Day: Deano's Story
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, hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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19:57

Tackling debt for a brighter future with Carer Kiera
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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19:38

Navigating the digital divide with self-confessed technophobe Gill
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 ...
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24:02

Culture shock, corner sofas and giant sausages
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...
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16:09

When essentials become a luxury
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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18:38

Paws for thought with dedicated volunteer Steve
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 b...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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13:32

Christmas, community and turning trauma into triumph with Sarah
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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18:42

Julcine's journey: Tackling life with toddler twins and a smile
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 f...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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21:34

Nzara's journey to joy via Manchester, music and food
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 c...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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19:24

Holly's story of resilience, food and family
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 hou...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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18:02

The realities of self employment and modern family life
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, exto...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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19:07

Talking life and luxuries with James and Braith
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.&n...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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19:42

Transforming Homes and Lives with Ellen and Katie
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 E...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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21:25
