A new initiative to provide essential goods to struggling households has been launched in Swansea.
Cwtch Mawr, Wales’s first ‘multibank’, was officially opened today (6 March 2024) by First Minister Mark Drakeford and Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister.
Multibanks are based on the foodbank model, but provide a wider range of non-perishable goods, enabling businesses to redistribute surplus unsold items to people for free.
Cwtch Mawr will be supported by donations from Amazon and other companies, including cleaning wipes, sanitary products, toilet paper, kitchen rolls and toys. New and reusable household goods, food, clothes, toiletries, furnishings, bedding, children and baby goods are expected to be provided in future.
The multibank model encourages businesses to cut down on waste through the creation of a bank of surplus household goods. Cwtch Mawr plans to donate more than 300,000 surplus essential goods to 40,000 families in poverty this year.
Cwtch Mawr will be run by Swansea-based charity Faith in Families, with support from Gordon Brown and Amazon, who co-founded the multi-bank initiative. The Welsh Government is providing £125,000 for the start-up of the project, with other support coming from local partners including Swansea Council, Pobl Housing Association and The Moondance Foundation.
For further information please select the following link: Wales’s first ‘multibank’ will provide essential items to people in need | GOV.WALES
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