Appeal to support families in poverty through Multibank donations

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has partnered with Comic Relief to launch a major appeal for businesses and philanthropic groups to join a “coalition of compassion.” This initiative seeks donations of goods and funds to support Multibank, a service that provides essential items to families experiencing poverty.

Multibanks, established in Fife and Wigan, have already distributed over 1.5 million items to 150,000 families in Scotland and Greater Manchester. The coalition aims to expand this support, with companies such as Amazon and Comic Relief committing to extend the initiative, targeting assistance for half a million families from six Multibanks by late 2024.

Brown stressed the urgent need to tackle poverty amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and called for a new social contract between businesses and charities. Highlighting the impact on children’s futures, he stated, “Children cannot be made to pay in their life chances…for the continuing cost-of-living crisis.”

The Multibank model connects surplus products from companies like Amazon with families in need, promoting both charity and sustainability. Brown encouraged businesses to donate surplus goods, particularly hygiene and cleaning supplies, to help children attend school clean and confident.

Amazon UK’s John Boumphrey praised the impact of Multibanks and called for more businesses to join the initiative. Comic Relief’s CEO Samir Patel emphasised the urgency, noting the growing severity of poverty and the need for essential support, especially as winter approaches. Through collective efforts, the coalition aims to ease the burden on struggling families and foster stronger communities.