Project to donate household goods to families

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown helped open the new Multibank centre

A new charity initiative aiming to donate essential household goods to 75,000 families has opened.

North-east England's first so-called Multibank is being run by The Junction charity from a Middlesbrough warehouse.

Clothing, crockery and toiletries are collected from businesses and then redistributed to local people.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who founded Multibanks in partnership with Amazon, said reusing surplus goods would provide "a huge boost for low income families" as well as being better for the environment.

He hopes the new centre will help "put a smile on every child's face" ahead of Christmas.

"We are tackling pollution and alleviating its effects by creating a new, cost effective, solution that sustains both the planet and childhood opportunity," Brown said.

"Multibanks are not just about meeting needs but offering hope that families struggling can have a better life."

The new Multibank centre aims to help about 75,000 families in the Tees region

The Tees Valley Multibank is the fifth to be set up, alongside initiatives in Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester and London.

It works in a similar way to a foodbank. Businesses, including Amazon, Heinz, Morrison’s and Tesco, donate products like toys, towels and cleaning products.

Teachers, social workers and community groups then distribute those products to local families.

'No-one should struggle'

At least one-in-four children in the North East lives in poverty, according to research by the End Childhood Poverty Coalition.

Middlesbrough has the highest rate of child poverty in the region.

The Junction CEO Beth Major said the multibank would help get support to the people who needed it most.

"No-one should struggle alone," she said.

"The Junction Multibank will help agencies and practitioners provide essential goods to families and individuals facing challenges, ensuring quicker access to basic needs."

One of the many boxes ready to be handed out at the new Multibank centre

John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK country manager, said he was "incredibly proud" of everyone's "commitment to grow the Multibanks".

Five million products had been given to more than 500,000 families since the scheme began in 2022, he said.

"Our goal is to help as many families as possible across the Tees Valley," he said.