From Swansea to Carmarthenshire: The Growing Impact of Cwtch Mawr and the Movement for Change
From Swansea to Carmarthenshire: The Growing Impact of Cwtch Mawr and the Movement for Change
At Faith in Families, we believe that lasting change begins with compassion, collaboration, and the unwavering belief that every family deserves dignity. That’s exactly why we launched Cwtch Mawr — Wales’s first Multibank — a space built not just on charity, but on solidarity.
Rooted in Swansea, Cwtch Mawr is much more than a distribution hub. It’s a beacon of hope, designed to ensure that no child goes without the essentials — whether that’s warm clothing, hygiene items, bedding, or everyday household goods. By connecting surplus donations from retailers like Amazon directly to those who need them most, we’re not only helping families, we’re reducing waste and encouraging a more caring, circular economy.
This initiative is part of a wider UK Multibank project co-founded by Gordon Brown and Amazon, but it’s here in Swansea — thanks to local partnerships and grassroots energy — that Cwtch Mawr has found its heart. With vital early support from the Welsh Government, Swansea Council, Pobl Housing Association, Moondance Foundation, and Swansea Bay University Health Board, our Multibank has grown into a lifeline for families facing impossible choices.
And yet, Cwtch Mawr was never meant to stand still and we are proud of the growing impact of Cwtch Mawr.
A Movement Taking Root in Carmarthenshire
The success of Cwtch Mawr in Swansea has sparked something powerful: a call for expansion. In Carmarthenshire, community leaders and councillors in Llanelli have united to explore what it would take to bring the Multibank model westward.
The drive to bring this initiative to Carmarthenshire is not about replicating a service — it’s about meeting a growing need in a meaningful way. Across the county, families are being squeezed by rising costs. Many are turning to foodbanks and other services simply to get by. There’s a growing recognition that more needs to be done — and urgently.
To show their support and see the Multibank in action for themselves, Dame Nia Griffith MP, Cllr Martyn Palfreman, Mayor of Llanelli Shaun Greaney, and colleagues paid a visit to Cwtch Mawr this week. Their visit was a powerful show of solidarity and an important step forward in the conversation about how we take this model further.
Their presence at the Multibank sends a strong message: leaders across the region are listening, learning, and leaning into the need for practical, compassionate action. As Cllr Gareth Lloyd has said:
“The poverty problem looms large here. Families are in need. Time is of the essence.”
This growing momentum is not about politics — it’s about people. It’s about communities taking a stand together and demanding better for their neighbours, their children, and their futures.
More Than a Project — A Shared Mission
From the very beginning, Cwtch Mawr has stood for more than logistics. It’s about community resilience. It’s about the belief that no child should go without clean clothes, no parent should feel the pressure of choosing between heating and eating, and no family should face crisis alone.
As our CEO, Cherrie Bija, so often reminds us:
“The cost of living is no longer a crisis – it’s the reality for far too many. And for those families, it’s not about luxuries — it’s about basics. We can’t let that become normal.”
We are deeply proud of the recognition Cwtch Mawr has received — from political leaders like Gordon Brown, to charity partners, to our incredible volunteers. But what matters most is the everyday impact: the relief on a parent’s face, the quiet confidence of a child who feels seen, supported, and safe.
Looking Ahead | The Growing Impact of Cwtch Mawr
We welcome the growing interest in expanding this model to Carmarthenshire and beyond. We stand ready to work alongside local authorities, partners, and community groups to build new hubs that respond directly to the realities of life for families in Wales today.
Because Cwtch Mawr is not just a Swansea story — it’s a story of what happens when people come together with a shared purpose. It’s a reminder that we are stronger when we act as one, and that poverty, however entrenched, is not inevitable.
Together, we’re not just redistributing goods. We’re rebuilding trust, restoring hope, and rewriting what community care can look like.
