In the heart of Broughton — one of Salford’s most deprived wards — a free breakfast club is becoming far more than tea, toast and a warm room. At The Rec, a not-for-profit community hub on Camp Street, staff and volunteers say the new initiative is quickly turning into a lifeline: a place to eat, a place to stay warm, and for many, a place to start again.
“We started as a community cooperative in 2012 tackling food poverty,” says Nick Burke, centre manager and organiser of the breakfast club. “One of the biggest things that seems to be transparent lately is that there’s just not enough locally for people who need the basics.”
And the pressure is growing. A report by Peak Waste for 2025 noted that Salford saw a 300% year-on-year surge in online searches for “cheap food,” suggesting mounting financial strain on many households.
The breakfast club runs alongside other morning activities inside the centre — fitness groups, support groups and, soon, arts and crafts. The idea, Nick says, is that food is just the entry point.
“For now, this is continuous,” he explains. “We want word to get around that it’s here. It’s not just food — at this time of year it’s a warm hub, somewhere to come if you’re having issues paying for gas or electric. And if you just want food or heat, that’s fine. But at the same time, there’ll always be something going on so people can get involved if they want to.”
That energy, that sense of being wanted and welcomed, is rooted in The Rec’s long history. The centre is operated by Salford Involved Community Cooperative — a community benefit society originally formed in 2014 by local residents trying to tackle food poverty.
“It was started by a man named Dave Frasier,” Nick says. “At that time it was literally just tackling food poverty. That’s what we started out doing — so with this breakfast club, we’re kind of going back to basics.”
The early days were simple: a single pot of food cooked each day and shared around churches and tiny community rooms across Lower Broughton. One pot became lunches, lunches became breakfast and lunch, and eventually the organisation took over a full community building — today’s Rec — expanding into fitness, support groups, events and social activities.
“We’ve always worked in the area,” Nick says. “Now we consider ourselves one of the best input points in the city.”
For Nick, the mission is deeply personal.
“I took over the day-to-day running of the centre about six years ago. I’m an ex-offender. When I came out of prison nobody would give me a job — except the person who set this up. He entrusted me with the vision of what this could be. So it means a lot to make sure it always stays community-focused.”
“This is where people can start doing something about their addiction.”
That commitment is echoed by volunteers like David Bradshaw, who works at The Rec while undergoing treatment for alcohol and drug addiction.
He volunteers two hours every Tuesday and Thursday morning and is setting up a chess club on Wednesday nights.
“Nick is connected to the treatment centre I’m in,” he explains. “We were offered the chance to not sit around all day — to come and volunteer.”
For David, the breakfast club is not just about food but recovery, hope and visibility.
“My hope is to build up the community, keep people coming in and reach out to people with addiction issues. If they come in, they can see me — seven months clean — showing treatment works. If you want to deal with your addiction, this is a place where you can start.”
Volunteering, he says, is part of rebuilding a life he once felt disconnected from.
“In the past we didn’t do anything for the community — we were selfish. Now this is our chance to give back.”
The impact on his own life has been profound.
“My quality of life has improved so much. I was with my children and grandchildren at the weekend. One of my grandkids is two now — my son wouldn’t let me see him before because of my addiction. Now I’ve been with them all weekend. I’m getting back into life with my children. They got the brunt of my addiction, but now I’m able to make amends. I used to spend my money on other things — now I can help them out.”
One Salford mum of two, who asked to stay anonymous, said the breakfast club offered something families increasingly rely on.
“I think that’s lovely. Having something you can fall back on is so important in today’s society — the world is becoming such a nasty place to live in. Finding your tribe is important.
As a single mum of two, I think it’s really beneficial… I work full-time, and yes, I’ve noticed essentials going up. Just knowing something like this exists takes some of the pressure off.”
More than a meal — a community anchor
With rising costs, widespread fuel insecurity and long-standing deprivation in Broughton, The Rec’s breakfast club is meeting needs that extend far beyond hunger. It offers heat, company, activities, and a route into support services — from fitness to recovery to social connection.
For some, it’s a warm breakfast.
For others, it’s a warm building when theirs isn’t.
For people like David, it’s a warm start to a new life.
And for Nick, it’s a return to the roots of what the centre was always meant to be: local people helping local people, no questions asked.