Challenge accepted: A hands‑on volunteering day helping food reach families

29 Apr 2026

Colleagues roll up their sleeves to support The Bread and Butter Thing

A team from Communications, Marketing and Student Recruitment recently used the colleague volunteering policy to spend a day with The Bread and Butter Thing, a charity tackling food waste and supporting thousands of households across the Greater Manchester and the UK.

Based at the charity’s busy warehouse, the group swapped laptops for steel‑toe‑cap boots and spent the day helping to keep the operation moving, with tasks from labelling and loading boxes to sorting crates of fresh produce and preparing vegetables. 

Jessica:

“The team‑building element was definitely a highlight. The sheer volume of boxes meant a lot of problem‑solving between us. It took us longer than we’d like to admit, but that just made it more enjoyable, and we had a lot of laughs along the way. Walking away knowing you’ve played even a small part in supporting local communities is a very rewarding feeling.” 

Over 90% of The Bread and Butter Thing’s operation relies on volunteers. By giving their time, the team helped ensure surplus food could be redistributed before going to waste, reaching around 8,000 people locally.  

Inspired to volunteer?

Lynda: 

“Go for it! Even a few hours can make a tangible difference. It also highlighted how supportive our team and organisation are in making space for volunteering, which is something I’m very grateful for.” 

Ruby: 

“It’s been a brilliant way to volunteer our time: not only to help a charity, but also a brilliant way to get to know the team on a different level. I really enjoyed the volunteer day and it allowed me to come back to my day job with a fresh perspective!”