Fighting Poverty and Fighting Pollution: The impact of The Big House Multibank
At The Big House Multibank, we Fight Poverty and Fight Pollution by transforming surplus into support. Over the past four years, we’ve made a measurable difference to the lives of thousands of families in Fife and across Scotland.
Fighting poverty
Each month over 100,000 goods are distributed across Fife, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh, supporting 2,500 families, with clear evidence of improved wellbeing, reduced financial pressure and stronger family stability.
Up to Thursday 21 May 2026:
- 384,344 families have received essential goods through our network of over 800 practitioners and charities.
- 4,542,478 products—from bedding and baby supplies to hygiene items and pans—have been distributed.
Number of items distributed
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (to 21 May) | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goods to Fife | 345,418 | 1,125,405 | 777,663 | 724,621 | 488,885 | 3,461,992 |
| Goods to Dundee | 20,781 | 156,442 | 122,603 | 71,374 | 371,200 | |
| Goods to Perth | 3,802 | 73,508 | 155,962 | 91,234 | 324,506 | |
| Goods to Edinburgh | 9,557 | 114,164 | 78,692 | 108,398 | 73,969 | 384,780 |
| Total Goods Distributed | 354,975 | 1,264,152 | 1,086,305 | 1,111,584 | 725,462 | 4,542,478 |
Number of families supported
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (to 21 May) | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Families in Fife | 57,814 | 34,209 | 99,860 | 85,269 | 23,712 | 300,864 |
| Families in Dundee | 1,172 | 10,686 | 11,550 | 8,075 | 31,483< | |
| Families in Perth | 980 | 6,533 | 13,672 | 9,178 | 30,363 | |
| Families in Edinburgh | 1,374 | 6,680 | 7,813 | 4,617 | 1,150 | 21,634 |
| Total Families Supported | 59,188 | 43,041 | 124,892 | 115,108 | 42,115 | 384,344 |
A Social Return on Investment (SROI) study conducted by Social Value Lab found:
- Beneficiaries were able to spend money on essentials (43%) without getting into more debt (42%).
- Almost two-thirds (64%) of professionals credited the project with avoiding a financial crisis for their clients, which may have otherwise led to legal action or eviction.
- Professionals also saw a significant proportion of families avoid homelessness (40%) or a health crisis (37%).
- Almost all (90%) of professionals reported seeing a reduction in children’s stress and anxiety.
- 83% of professionals saw a positive impact on children’s confidence and self-esteem.
- 68% of professionals saw a positive impact on children’s ability to concentrate at school.
- One in ten parent/carers (11%) expressed the view that without support their children may have ended up being taken into care.
- A significant majority (70%) of parents/carers reported that their physical health had improved thanks to the donated products they received. Three-quarters (75%) of respondents found that their family relationships had improved thanks to the project.
- A large majority (84%) of parents/carers reported a more positive outlook on their future. This is strongly corroborated by professionals, 84% of whom saw an increase in clients’ positivity about the future.
- One in ten (11%) specified that the support had helped them to avoid losing their tenancy.
- By addressing the immediate practical needs of their clients, professionals could focus on working with the families on more structural issues (76%). We prevented 42% of families from accumulating more debt.
“It has enabled a stress to be taken away. I needed nappies and wipes for my children and because I was as able to get these it enabled there to be money for me to eat that week. Without this help I wouldn’t have been able to afford to.”
Fighting pollution
And our impact on sustainability is undeniable:
- Millions of duvets and countless other items, from clothing to phone chargers, have been rescued from landfill.
- Partnering with companies like Amazon, Unilever, and local firms, we extend the lifecycle of surplus products, reducing emissions and resource wastage.
- By aligning with the principles of the circular economy, we prevent unnecessary production, packaging and disposal.
“The key reason we’re doing this is to help people. Environmental sustainability is a by-product. And that is absolutely fantastic.”
Donating Business
Measurable social value
Every pound donated or product shared generates a ripple of impact:
- For every £1 invested, we deliver £5.95 in social value, creating stronger, healthier communities.
- We save significant public costs by reducing reliance on emergency services and interventions, enabling long-term stability for families.
Join the coalition of compassion
The Big House Multibank proves that Fighting Poverty and Fighting Pollution isn’t just possible—it’s essential. With your help, we can:
- Expand our reach to more families in need across Scotland.
- Provide consistent access to essentials, from baby supplies to hygiene products.
- Reduce the volume of waste going to landfill.
To learn more about how you can support our fight against poverty and pollution, contact us by email. Together, we can transform lives and protect our planet.
