Half-term, hardship and heartbreak: one month in the life of a food-bank manager

At the same time the pandemic has brought job losses and spiralling poverty, food banks are finding volunteers and donations in short supply. Ellie Coteau from the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield explains how they are coping

Every morning at the Welcome Centre in Huddersfield goes like this. Ellie Coteau lets herself in at 8.45 and makes her way to the kitchen, for a cup of tea. She chats to her deputy, Mike Bristow, then heads to her desk to turn on her computer and check the referral list for that day.