Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief
For over 27 years, Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief have worked side by side to support communities across the UK.
Together, we’ve helped millions of families access the good food, support and opportunities they need to build happier, healthier lives.
Now, we're coming together to launch an ambitious new phase of our partnership with a simple vision - a UK where every family has access to good food, so no child goes hungry.
Sainsbury’s is on a mission to raise £30 million for Comic Relief by the end of 2030, helping us to donate 120 million meals* to children and families across the UK since 2022.
Let's put hunger to bed
Every child should grow up nourished, strong and full of possibility. No parent should have to skip a meal so their children can eat. But today in the UK, 1 in 7 families struggle to afford enough food to grow, learn and thrive. That’s why we’ve launched ‘Let’s Put Hunger to Bed’, a campaign that shines a light on the reality affecting millions of families. Because no family should have to face hunger, especially at the end of the day.
And to help tell that story, Jodie Whittaker narrates a moving new poem written by Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis, in a film that reveals the hidden hunger affecting families across the UK.
Below is the full text of our poem written by Richard Curtis, inspired by families facing hunger.
The Bread and Butter Thing
Providing vital support for low income families through their 150 food clubs, The Bread and Butter Thing run from local community hubs across the North of England. By redistributing surplus food, they enable families to access nutritious food and essentials at more affordable prices.
One of the parents who inspired the poem is Tracey, a mother of five who, despite working multiple jobs seven days a week, was unable to afford enough food and basic essentials due to rising living costs.
Tracey said: “It all began six years ago when I became a single parent to my children. I had one wage coming in and stretching to six of us in the household. I already had a full-time job, but I got a part-time job in the evening just to see me through. I couldn’t keep up with bills, I couldn’t keep up with food shopping, I started struggling.”
This meant that Tracey had to sacrifice her own meals so that her children could eat. “There would be days when I wouldn’t eat because I had to save so my children could eat proper meals. The hardest part is not being able to give your children the foods they need to flourish.” Tracey shared how she would eat small bites of food that she was preparing for the kids to get by, or things like lemon curd sandwiches which took a toll on her wellbeing and on family life. Tracey said: “When we were going through that time of not eating properly, and not getting the nourishment that we all needed, I wouldn’t sleep properly. I was always up worrying what I could cook the next day.”
Tracey was introduced to The Bread and Butter Thing, an organisation that receives funding from Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s, by a customer at her part-time job. Operating out of local community hubs, they provide members with high-quality groceries, including fresh produce, chilled goods and pantry staples, at a fraction of the usual cost, helping people stretch their budgets and build financial resilience. She said: “When I signed up with The Bread and Butter Thing, it changed my life, it changed my kids’ lives. Now I eat at least three times a day. I can eat with my children. We can have our meals together.”
Our programme purpose
‘Food insecurity’ is when people are forced to go without food or cut back on the quality or quantity they eat, because they can’t afford it.
Our aim is to help end child and family hunger, ensuring families have the stability, resources and dignity they need to thrive. We will do this by supporting community-led organisations, with the aim to:
Improve children and families’ health and wellbeing through access to good, nutritious food
Strengthen family resilience to crisis and hardship through wraparound support
Support longer-term change by bringing together communities, funders and decision-makers, and by advocating for policies that better support families.
This programme recognises that child food insecurity does not exist in isolation. Families are affected by wider pressures such as low income, insecure housing and rising living costs. Alongside practical support, the programme aims to improve the systems and policies that shape families’ lives.
Reports & Publications
Here you can find our recent research publications, learning reports and insights. To read other reports, visit our dedicated page here.
Building Resilience: The Role of Food Clubs in UK Food Security
In this report, Dr Megan K Blake (University of Sheffield) presents the first large-scale, independent analysis of the affordable food club model, examining its role in strengthening UK food security. The report was commissioned as part of the Nourish the Nation programme that is co-funded with Sainsbury’s.
Nourish the Nation 2022-2026 Impact Report
The impact report provides an overview of the work from 2022 to 2026 on the Nourish the Nation programme that is co-funded with Sainsbury’s. The programme aims to tackle food insecurity in the UK, through funding affordable food clubs, providing good food for children, and supporting food redistribution partners.
Snapshot Report – Food Insecurity Scoping Review
This report distils the core findings of an independent scoping review of the UK food insecurity sector conducted by Nick Hopkins, commissioned by Comic Relief as part of the Nourish the Nation programme co-funded with Sainsbury’s.
*Since 2022, Sainsbury’s has donated the equivalent of 60 million meals as part of its partnership with Comic Relief, and is now aiming to double that amount to donate the equivalent of 120m meals, to be distributed by Comic Relief’s funded partners.