Opening of new Multibank in Tees Valley & Peter Capaldi to front first Multibank Christmas Appeal
The Multibank is pleased to announce the launch of a new regional Multibank in Middlesbrough today (Tuesday). The launch will coincide with our Christmas campaign - starring Peter Capaldi -, live this week. It aims to raise funds and supplies to expand the Multibanks’ support for struggling families across the UK.
The Junction Multibank
The Junction Multibank is operated by Tees Valley charity The Junction partnership with Amazon and supported by other businesses like PalletLine and Ineos. It aims to donate more than 750,000 surplus goods over the next 12 months, via its local networks of care professionals and teachers, to 75,000 families across the area who are in need of support.
Founding and Support
The Multibank network has been founded in 2021 by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown with Amazon UK. It is now supported by Comic Relief and a growing number of businesses. The national network works with leading charities like The Junction to combat poverty. Surplus goods such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, hygiene products, bedding, home furnishings, toys and baby goods are redistributed to families struggling to make ends meet.
Current Multibanks
The first Multibank opened in Fife three years ago and three others operate out of Wigan, Swansea and London. Between them they have distributed over 5 million surplus goods to 500,000 families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis.
Impact of The Multibank
The Multibank impact is direct and formidable. Social Value reports show that the Multibank model is preventing families falling into crisis, improving attendance rates in school, alleviating cross-family stress by relieving strains on family finances and helping families money stretch closer to the end of the month. For every £1 invested in distribute and warehousing The Multibanks are returning near £6 in social value.
Expansion Goals
The Multibank wants to do more to expand its special support to the 4.3 million children in the UK - almost a quarter of all children - who are currently living in relative poverty. The End Childhood Poverty Coalition’s recent report has been estimating child poverty In Tees valley higher than the national average. In Middlesbrough 48.7% of children are currently living in poverty. The Junction Multibank will build on the Junction’s established work supporting children, young people and families across Tees Valley and aims to ensure no good product goes to waste, and no family goes without the essentials they need.
Operations
The Junction Multibank will process donations from a dedicated 12,000 sq. ft warehouse in Middlesbrough to community support organisations, schools and colleges, and homeless shelters in Tees Valley. The Junction Multibank has drawn support from the leaders of Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool Councils, and the Elected Mayor of Middlesbrough who have each committed £25,000 to support the project. Additional funding has been provided through the Multibank Fund, established with £1 million from Amazon and Comic Relief.
Christmas Campaign
The Multibank National Christmas advertising campaign, designed to raise more business surplus goods and public donations to support the The Multibank mission to alleviate poverty by combating waste and will help us bring support to more families across the UK. Produced and donated by Sky Creative and starring the renowned Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi, accompanied by original music from Emmy Award-winning composer Daniel Pemberton, the campaign debuts this week on Sky’s TV channels, Digital Cinema Media and print adverts will appear in various publications over the holiday season.
Statements
Former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said;
“Multibanks are not just about meeting needs but offering hope that families struggling to get by can have a better life and in particular, as we prepare for Christmas we want The Multibanks to put a smile on every child’s face.
“The key to the work of the Multibank is that we link companies who have surplus, good products to community based charities like The Junction who through their networks know the people in their communities who need them. And The Multibank model benefits all of us because, by making sure no good product goes to waste we are alleviating poverty by tackling pollution and creating a new cost effective solution that sustains both the planet and child hood opportunity.
“I thank everyone who is giving so much of their time and talent to support the good work of The Multibanks. And today especially I’d like to thank Beth Major and all at The Junction Multibank for the work they will and the lives that wil be enhanced in Tees Valley because of it.
“I thank actor Peter Capaldi and composer Daniel Pemberton who have both donated their time and extraordinary talent to make our first ever Multibank Christmas advertising campaign. And I thank too Sky Creative who have produced their work making such an impactful film. And with the help of businesses and the public, your giving campaign will change lives in our communities for the better.”
Beth Major, CEO, The Junction, said;
“No one should struggle alone. We know the challenges that children, young people and families in Tees Valley face alongside the challenges of practitioners trying to meet those needs through our own work. The Junction Multibank will help agencies and practitioners provide essential goods to families and individuals facing challenges, ensuring quicker access to basic needs. This timely support will enable deeper engagement and opportunities for long-term progress.”
John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon, said;
“Our goal is to help as many families as possible across Tees Valley by connecting surplus goods from Amazon and other businesses, with those who need it most. I’m incredibly proud of the work our team is doing, alongside many committed partners, to grow and scale Multibanks, providing support for more than half a million families across the UK.”