Our Story

The Multibank as we’re known today began as The Big Hoose Project (2022–2024), a transformative pilot in Fife spearheaded by Pauline Buchan, Strategic Manager of The Cottage Family Centre, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The project brought together local charities, community organisations and businesses around a simple idea: companies have surplus goods people need, and local charities know the people who need them. Together, they created a Multibank – a clothes, bedding, baby, hygiene, toy and furniture bank all rolled into one.

With support from businesses including The Multibank’s principal partner Amazon UK, and its Country Manager John Boumphrey OBE, the project distributed hundreds of thousands of essential items to families across Fife.

As the cost of living crisis deepened, alongside more than a decade of public funding cuts, it became clear that more people needed more help. The model grew into The Multibank – connecting business surplus with local community organisations, to get essential items where they are needed most.

The Multibank now operates across six regions in Britain: Scotland, Wales, the North West, London, Wales, Tees Valley and the West Midlands. More than 20 million items have been redistributed, supporting nearly two million families.

The Multibank’s coalition of compassion, comprised of corporate partners and organisations from the public, charity and community sectors, has created a movement against the debilitating effects of household poverty.

Together, we are reducing the effects of poverty on families and communities, whilst contributing to a sustainable economy. Free at the point of delivery and dignified at every step.