Groundbreaking Fife charity in line for Scottish award
A pioneering project launched in Fife has been shortlisted for a leading Scottish award
The Big Hoose Multibank has been nominated as charity of the year in the Scottish Charity Awards.
The winners will be revealed at an event, hosted by broadcaster Sally Magnusson, in Glasgow on June 11.
The awards are run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), and celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector.
Launched in Kirkcaldy in 2022, the Big Hoose has made a huge impact supporting families across Fife, and it has gone on to create a network of groups across Scotland and England.
It was started when the Cottage Family Centre in the Lang Toun signed a deal with Amazon's Fulfilment Centre in Dunfermline to distribute surplus goods - which were destined to landfill – to families and children in poverty.
Since then a host of major businesses have come on board, and earlier this year, Chris O’Shea, the Fife-born chief executive of energy company, Centrica, signed a £2.4million partnership to help more families. It will provide cash of £800,000 per year to strengthen The Multibank’s core operations, expand its reach through new satellite hubs, and increase the supply of essential goods such as warm bedding, clothing, baby items, hygiene products and furniture.
Since 2022 The Big Hoose Multibank - soon to be known as Multibank Scotland - has distributed more than 4.5 million items across Scotland, supporting around 2500 families per week. This year alone, they are on track to distribute over two million items, supporting over 100,000 families across Edinburgh, Fife, Dundee, Perth and Glasgow.
Alice Moxley, chief executive, said: “We are truly delighted to be shortlisted in the category ‘charity of the year’ for these important awards which reflect so much good work taking place in Scotland.
“The Multibank model is proving vital in taking on the huge task of addressing entrenched poverty across Scotland and beyond. Our plan going forward is to grow our impact and reach substantially, building on what has already been achieved.”
Anna Fowlie, chief executive, SCVO said: “Our voluntary sector is truly essential to Scottish society - we see the positive impact organisation and individuals make in communities across the country every single day."
The BigHoose is on a shortlist of three for the award.
> Jenny Black, from Fife Pride, is also nominated for volunteer of the year.