Latest 'multibank' starts to donate surplus goods

A charity co-founded by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown providing essential goods for people in need is starting its latest "multibank".

The West Midlands Multibank, in Birmingham, aims to distribute more than 750,000 surplus goods to 75,000 families in the region over the next year.

Multibanks provide items including clothing, cleaning products and toiletries for social workers, teachers, charities and groups to distribute.

"The opening of the West Midlands Multibank will help families, schools and all family support services across the region to have the material means to relieve and turn around the dreadful hardship being experienced across this region," Brown said.

He added multibanks were attracting increasing support from UK businesses.

Amazon is a major supporter of the initiative.

John Boumphrey, UK and Ireland country manager for Amazon, said at the opening of the new venue: "One of the things I was hearing this morning was of a family who said 'I'm so pleased to get the support from multibanks because it means I don't have to send my kids to school with a carrier bag.'"

He added Amazon employees, some who volunteered for the scheme, were "really proud" to be part of it.

Mr Boumphrey told the BBC: "What's innovative about this model is that it enables people like social workers and teachers and doctors to access all these products completely for free, as a big business we can make a difference."

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, who explained he had worked with Brown and other people to bring the scheme to the area, said the "fantastic facility" would receive donations from businesses across the region and help alleviate poverty.

"That's really, really important because we've almost got 50% of children in the West Midlands growing up in poverty," he said.

The West Midlands multibank is the sixth of its kind been established in the UK.

The initiative has so far seen more than seven million goods donated to more than 600,000 families in Scotland, Greater Manchester, Wales, London and Tees Valley.

"Thanks to Gordon Brown's vision and to the generous support of Amazon and Comic Relief, the West Midlands Multibank will be helping local charities, schools and social workers to access essential goods for families in need," said Brian Carr, Chief Executive of Birmingham Voluntary Service Council.

"This is a visionary initiative that has the potential to tackle poverty and reduce pollution all whilst improving people's lives."

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