Faith in Families is proud to be taking the next step in the story of Cwtch Mawr Multibank, Wales’ only Multibank, as the project begins expanding its reach across Wales with support from Welsh Government.
What began in Swansea as a bold idea, created in partnership with The Multibank UK and Amazon, to get essential items to people who needed them most, has grown into one of Wales’ most powerful examples of community-led support.
In just over two years, Cwtch Mawr Multibank has distributed more than 1,347,792 brand-new essential items through a network of 157 charity and community partners, directly supporting thousands of children, families and individuals facing hardship.
From toothpaste, nappies and toiletries, to warm coats, shoes, bedding, school essentials, kettles, toasters and household goods, Cwtch Mawr provides the everyday items that can make the difference between coping and crisis.
But this is about more than items.
It is about dignity.
It is about relief.
It is about making sure people feel supported, not judged.
At its heart, Cwtch Mawr takes brand-new surplus goods that may otherwise go unused and redirects them into local communities, where they are needed most. It is a model that turns surplus into support and proves that sustainability and community care can go hand in hand.
A Swansea Idea With National Potential
Cwtch Mawr has already created an estimated £28 million in social value, showing the impact that is possible when charities, businesses, public services and communities work together.
Now, with Welsh Government support, Faith in Families is building the infrastructure, partnerships and supply chains needed to grow the Multibank model beyond Swansea.
The project has already expanded into Bridgend, with further partnership work developing in Carmarthenshire and Wrexham. Faith in Families is also having conversations with partners in Cardiff, as the charity explores how the Multibank model could support even more communities across Wales.
This marks a significant step towards creating a wider Welsh network of support, helping more communities access essential goods quickly, safely and with dignity.
For Faith in Families, this expansion is about staying true to what made Cwtch Mawr powerful from the beginning: local relationships, trusted partners and support that feels human.
Support That Reaches People Quickly
Cwtch Mawr works through trusted partners including schools, housing teams, health services, domestic abuse services, refugee support groups, local charities and community organisations.
These partners know the people they support. They understand the pressures families are facing. They can identify need quickly and make sure the right items reach the right people at the right time.
This means Cwtch Mawr is not just a warehouse full of products. It is a network of care.
Every box packed, every pallet moved and every item shared represents a person or family who may be under pressure, starting again, trying to stay afloat, or simply needing a little support to get through a difficult moment.
Jon Waite, Warehouse Manager at Cwtch Mawr Multibank, said:
“Every day in the warehouse, we see the scale of what is needed, but we also see the difference this project makes. These are brand-new items that could have been left unused, but instead they are going straight into homes where they are needed. “Behind every order is a real person, a child, a family, someone starting again, someone under pressure. When a partner tells us a child has warm clothes, a family has bedding, or someone finally has the basics to make a house feel like home, that is what keeps us going. “Cwtch Mawr works because people care enough to act. Businesses donate, partners refer, volunteers give their time, and our team makes sure those items move quickly and with dignity. To see this model now growing beyond Swansea is something really special.”
Partnerships Creating Bigger Impact
The success of Cwtch Mawr has been made possible through powerful partnerships.
Working alongside The Multibank UK and Amazon, Faith in Families has helped establish a model that gives businesses a practical, responsible way to put surplus stock to good use.
Support from businesses and national partners has meant thousands of items have reached families who may otherwise have gone without. Campaigns such as Veeqo and Amazon’s Back to School activity have helped children enter education with confidence, while wider partnerships have supported early years development, family wellbeing and access to everyday essentials.
Faith in Families continues to champion national conversations around making it easier for businesses to donate surplus goods, including calls for VAT relief on donated items. Small changes at policy level could unlock huge amounts of additional support for children and families across the UK.
Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families, said:
“Cwtch Mawr started with a simple belief: that no good item should sit unused when it could change someone’s day, someone’s home, or someone’s future. “The impact has been incredible. Behind every item is a child who is warmer, a parent under less pressure, a family able to settle, and a community that feels supported. This is sustainability with people at the centre; surplus goods becoming dignity, comfort and hope. “We are so proud that a project born here in Swansea is now growing across Wales. With Welsh Government support, and with the continued commitment of our partners, businesses and communities, we can reach even more people who need practical support delivered with care. “This is what Faith in Families is about. Hugs Not Handouts. Support without stigma. People coming together to make sure nobody has to face life’s toughest moments alone.”
Growing the Movement
As Cwtch Mawr expands, Faith in Families is calling on more businesses, community organisations and partners to be part of the movement.
Businesses with brand-new surplus goods can help ensure items are put to use where they are needed most. Community organisations can help make sure support reaches people safely and fairly. Funders and supporters can help grow the model so even more communities benefit.
Because every item matters.
A coat can help a child stay warm.
A pack of nappies can ease pressure for a parent.
A kettle and toaster can help turn an empty property into a home.
A school uniform can help a child walk into class with confidence.
Cwtch Mawr Multibank proves what happens when Wales looks after its own.
What began as local impact in Swansea is now becoming a national movement for dignity, sustainability and community support.
Find out more about Cwtch Mawr Multibank, and how to become a partner, or donate goods.
