The Bread & Butter Thing

The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) runs affordable food clubs across the north of England to help people access good-quality, nutritious food at a very low cost. It redistributes surplus food from supermarkets, manufacturers, and farms that would otherwise go to waste.

Comic Relief’s 1.5-year funding will strengthen TBBT’s ability to amplify the voices of its members by building dedicated storytelling capacity. Their annual survey of nearly 10,000 people highlights the hidden struggles and resilience of families navigating a broken system, and this funding will help turn those insights into powerful stories that drive change.

Working with specialist consultants, TBBT will develop written, multimedia, and community-led stories that go beyond statistics to influence policymakers and deepen public understanding of food insecurity. By doing so, they aim to shift the conversation from crisis response to long-term, community-driven solutions.

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society

Promila, her daughter in law Mita, and her granddaughter Pyushi had built their lives across generations in Southeastern Bangladesh. Their home was a place of shared meals, family routine, and the small everyday moments that make a life feel steady.

In August 2024, devastating floods tore through their community and many areasacross Bangladesh. Rising waters forced families to flee, destroyed farmland, and swept away the family’s home, along with most of their belongings. In a single night, everything changed for three generations of the Das family. Amid the chaos and danger of the floods, youth volunteer Julhas stepped forward. He had admired the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society since he was a boy, and during the floods he became part of its rapid response.

“Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to help the people of my country in times of crisis. The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society is the best organisation for this.”

Through their vast network of volunteers, The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society reached families quickly, focusing first on the essentials like clean drinking water, food, safe shelter.

Comic Relief funding supported this rapid response. And today we continue to fund the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society as it helps the community build their resilience to flooding, and implement their own changes and solutions into their surrounding institutions and economies to better adapt to their ever changing climate.

GISDA

Anya grew up in rural North Wales. At an early age, she began taking care of herself as her father was unable to care for her. “When I was 8 or 9, my friends were learning their times tables and I was beginning to learn how to cook so I could look after myself and starting to learn how to survive, instead of learning how to play with people and interact with the world”

Shortly after Anya turned 13, she started staying with friends or family members, “I didn’t really realise it at the time, but when I was around 14, 15, I was actually homeless, I was sofa surfing.” At the age of 15 Anya was introduced to GISDA - a Welsh charity run by young people for young people tackling youth homelessness and providing wellbeing and support services. “Two weeks after my 16th birthday, I got the call of my life from GISDA. They said they had a flat for me and three days later they picked me up and moved me in and it just felt so surreal and amazing to finally be escaping and going to start the next chapter.”

Through GISDA, Anya was able to move into temporary accommodation and finish school – and over time was able to support herself and even began volunteering at GISDA to help other young people.

Anya is now a teaching assistant at a local primary school, and lives in North Wales with her partner and two cats. “If I hadn’t gone to GISDA I’d be dead. I’m a survivor. I’ve survived a hell of a lot.”

Comic Relief funding supports GISDA to provide accommodation and support for vulnerable young people, access to mental health resources and building skills to unleash their full potential.

To find out more about how your donation can make an impact, email Erin at e.rice@comicrelief.com(opens in new window).