How we work

The Multibank is a powerful partnership of businesses, charities, public and community sector organisations working together across six regions in Britain to meet the needs of people experiencing poverty, with a particular focus on children and families.

A hand up, not a hand out

The charity was founded on the idea that businesses have perfectly good products they cannot sell and there are families going without – in solving a business problem, we can alleviate challenges too many families are facing on a daily basis.

As our operations have grown across six regions in Britain – the North East, North West, West Midlands and London in England, as well as Scotland and Wales – it has become clear that demand for essential items is so high that we now also welcome product donations in addition to surplus stock, as well as low-cost purchasing.

Goods from business arrive at our regional Multibanks (operated by local, independent charities), are sorted and catalogued, and flow out through a trusted network of teachers, health visitors, social workers and other professionals from the public, voluntary and community sectors – people who already know which households are struggling.

Goods are socially prescribed, free at the point of delivery, and dignified at every step. People and families do not queue. There is no public-facing crisis service. Help arrives through people they already trust – a hand up, not a hand out.

Our Operating Model

Our operating model is a simple one, redirect otherwise surplus goods to the children, families and people that could really benefit from them.

Working closely with our corporate partners, community partners and regional Multibanks, we support local needs by accessing a wide range of goods that really make a difference to people’s lives – from dental hygiene products to children’s books, bedding and towels to deodorant, and sanitary products to clothing.

Here’s how it works:

1. Corporate partners donate goods or redirect surplus products

2. Goods are transported to our regional Multibanks where they are sorted, catalogued and stored

3. Community partners choose the items they require from a weekly inventory

4. Goods are sent to or collected by community partners (teachers, nurses, social workers, charities)

5. Goods are distributed to children, families and people that need them, providing much needed hygiene, cleaning, laundry and homeware items.

With special thanks

This work would not be possible without the brilliant local charities which operate our regional Multibanks.

Multibank Scotland

The Brick, which operates Multibank North West

The Junction, which operates The Junction Multibank

Faith in Families, which operates Multibank Cymru

BVSC, which operates West Midlands Multibank

Felix, which operates Felix Multibank