Christmas can be a joyful and uplifting time for many people but for some, the struggle to put food on the table or stay clean and warm is ever-present, particularly in the ongoing cost of living crisis. It’s why initiatives like The Multibank are so important and offer a much needed lifeline to so many people and families across the UK.

A multibank is a clothes, baby, hygiene, toy and furniture bank all rolled into one. Instead of making people locate and go to various centres and banks to get all the different products and goods they need, a multibank brings all these goods together in one place. Ease and access are vital.

Supported by Stylist, The Multibank initiative operates based on the idea that companies have the surplus goods that people need and local charities know the people who need them. The Multibank initiative connects the goods with the charities to tackle the effects of poverty, enable children to access opportunities as well as contributing to a circular and sustainable economy. It aims to fight poverty and pollution.

Founded in December 2021 by the former prime minister, Gordon Brown, The Multibank works at the grassroots level with family centre charities in communities and redistributes business surplus to support families in those communities struggling with the cost of living. This ensures no product goes to waste and that people struggling to make ends meet can access the essentials needed to care for themselves and their children.

In July 2024, the first multibank of its kind opened in London (overseen by the Felix Project and backed by the Mayor of London) amid concerns about levels of poverty as the school summer holidays began. While the concept was pioneered in Scotland, there are already multibanks operating in Manchester and Swansea and a multibank coming soon to the Birmingham area.

The gift of giving: How to support The Multibank initiative this Christmas