Big thanks our volunteers at The Bread and Butter Thing this Volunteers' Week… and you can get involved too!

This week we’re saying thank you to all the brilliant people who volunteer to help us deliver The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) services to our customers. And we’re spreading the word about how you can get involved and volunteer if you want to!

Our volunteers’ actions make a huge difference and help make affordable food available to our customers five days a week.

We’ve partnered with TBBT to help increase the amount of disposable income in our customers' pockets, so they don’t have to choose between buying food, paying bills or buying other basics. For just £7.50, customers’ shopping bags are filled with a minimum of £35 worth of items made up of quality fresh food and store cupboard staples from supermarkets. Those with larger families have the option to pay £15 for a double order, too. But we couldn’t do it without our amazing volunteers.

Since we began our partnership with TBBT back in November 2019, more than 51 big hearted FCHO customers and people from the local community and across Greater Manchester have given up 5,135 hours of their time to set up and run services every week, distribute shopping, organise payment and more – all with a welcome and a smile.

Like FCHO Michael and Gavin who volunteer at our Wallshaw St and Royton food offers. Michael says being part of our TBBT services has helped him learn new skills after a challenging year:

“Volunteering with TBBT has enabled me to get back into the community after the first lockdown. It makes me feel useful to the team and meet a new circle of people, whilst enhancing my customer service and communications skills.”

For Gavin, volunteering gives him a sense of purpose and it is a way to meet people, too. He says: “It’s really helped me get through the lock down, keeping me active and getting me out.”

Dave Brereton, FCHO Community Impact Manager says: “The past year has been very difficult for many of our customers and providing them with access to affordable food has been crucial. Our partnership with TBBT has been more important than ever and we’re delighted to offer the service five days a week. But all this wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. Thanks to you all for giving up your time to help make such a positive difference and we’d love to welcome more volunteers onboard too.”

If you would like to volunteer at our TBBT services which currently operate in central Oldham, Royton, Sholver, Holts and Greenacres, please get in touch with us by emailing volunteer@fcho.co.uk or calling 0161 393 5589.

If you would benefit from accessing TBBT please email our Community Impact team or call 0161 393 7117.