Since March 2024, Faith in Families’ Cwtch Mawr Multibank has freely distributed one million essential items to families and individuals across Swansea Bay.
The initiative supplies items to partner organisations, who assess need and give them directly to the people they support. Led by Faith in Families and supported by Amazon UK, Cwtch Mawr connects surplus goods from responsible businesses with community partners who know where help is needed most.
Cherrie Bija, Chief Executive of Faith in Families, said:
“Cwtch Mawr was built for hard times — and these are hard times. One million essential items given out for free means one million moments of dignity. It means parents can feed their children without worrying about buying toiletries. It means people can move into a home with bedding, or children can start school with everything they need. This is what community looks like.”
Cwtch Mawr works with 127 partner organisations across Swansea Bay to reach families in need, from housing teams and health visitors to refugee services and grassroots groups).
Jonathan Waite, Facility and Development Manager at Faith in Families, said:
“Too many parents are still choosing between bus fare and toiletries, nappies and necessities. Our Multibank team works hard every day to keep essential items moving where they are needed most. A special thank you to our staff, volunteers and supporters who made this milestone possible.”
An independent Social Return on Investment (SROI) report by Social Value Lab found that for every £1 invested in Cwtch Mawr, £5.90 in social value is created, delivering over £27 million of benefit for Swansea Bay in its first year.
John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager at Amazon, said:
“Amazon helped set up the Multibank model because we knew donating surplus products to families in need could change lives. Seeing Cwtch Mawr reach one million items so quickly is proof of that vision in action. Through our donations, funding and expertise, we are proud to help build a practical, sustainable solution that is transforming communities.”
Gordon Brown, co-founder of the Multibank initiative and former Prime Minister, said:
“I want to congratulate Faith in Families and the team at Cwtch Mawr Multibank for their remarkable achievement in reaching this million-item milestone in service of families in Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn.”
The impact of Cwtch Mawr can be seen in schools, homes and community hubs across the city.
Viv Price, Futures Without Borders, said:
“The staff are incredible, always friendly and ready to help. It is more than a service, it is a partnership that keeps people going. We could not do what we do without them.”
Rebecca Bisengimana, Femme Fervante, said:
“Simple things like deodorant, toothpaste and sanitary items make a huge difference. It is about dignity, not charity.”
Carol Hancox-Williams, POBL, said:
“One mother told me she had run out of toilet roll and only had a few pence left. That day, she received a pack through Cwtch Mawr. It is that kind of moment, when someone can breathe again, that shows its worth.”
Sally Powell, Swansea Council’s Housing Support Team, said:
“The items we collect allow families to redirect what little money they have towards food or heating. It is that simple, and that vital.”
