Charity redistributes surplus goods
David Tennant is supporting a new campaign to tackle poverty by a charity created by former prime minister Gordon Brown.
The Multibank was co-created in Fife in 2022 by Brown to redistribute surplus goods from businesses to people in need through a network of charities.
Tennant said: "I think The Multibank is a brilliant, clever and very pure idea.
"The companies and businesses have products they can’t use or can’t sell and The Multibank takes them, repurposes them and gives them to people who can’t afford them, who are suffering and makes they lives better.
"Everyone wins. It’s one of those perfect ideas. I can’t believe it hasn’t already existed and I’m thrilled to be supporting it."
A new TV advert has been produced and donated by Sky starring Tennant. The campaign will run throughout October.
The Multibank has redistributed more than 11.5 million essential items to over 1.5 million million families in need across their regions.
Brown, president of The Multibank, said: "The tragedy of the 2020s is that nearly 4.5 million children are facing abject, dire and never ending poverty that will shape their whole lives unless we act.
"While we await the government’s Child Poverty Review, we cannot allow children to suffer and that is why The Multibank has given out 11 million goods to more than 1 million children to relieve deprivation in six different regions and nations of Britain.
"Our target is to move to 20 million goods as soon as possible to help 2 million children."
The campaign highlights the tough choices faced by families living in poverty, posing the question: "Toilet roll or a toothbrush?"
The charity operates in Fife, Wigan, Swansea, London, Tyne Tees, and Birmingham.
It works with more than 3,000 charities, community groups, and care professionals.
A new crowd-funder with The Big Give is aiming to raise funds to distribute three million more products to 300,000 more people.
Every pound raised will be match-funded.
Katharine Sacks Jones, CEO of The Multibank, said: "The harsh reality is that 14.3 million people in the UK are living in poverty right now, including 4.3 million children who shouldn't have to choose between tooth paste or toilet paper, school shoes or food on the table.
"The Multibank exists because no family should face these degrading daily dilemmas.
"With David Tennant and our media partners' support and the generosity of the British public, we can reach more of the millions of families trapped in this cycle and provide them with the daily necessities that most of us take for granted."
