Families 1st North East

Multibank

Established in 2018, in lieu of first hand personal experiences with a lack of support for families and vulnerable individuals dealing with persistent mental health, physical limitations & learning disabilities,


Families 1st 4 Additional Needs was originally established to combat daily difficulties and needless struggle facing the neuro diverse community, with an initially limited food bank element serving our S.E.N clients during early Covid lockdowns. As requests flooded in from the broader community and in turn demand sky rocketed, services were expanded to include poverty & food waste on to our constitution.


Over the following couple of years, as our client lists continued to expand exponentially, we noticed many of the clients engaging in our Food Bank service, reporting additional requirements they were sadly unable to fulfill through municipal services. Requests from newly housed single mothers & victims of domestic violence, refugee's and others in supported living for additional household basics like white goods, bedding and cooking utensils. Requests for school uniforms, children's clothes, school equipment and more. Having first hand experience of the intersectional nature of poverty, these requests for help were not a surprise.


After establishing our S.E.N support & expanding to build the North Newcastle Food Bank. Once up and running smoothly we then continued to further utelise our amazing Volunteer workforce, setting up expanded to open our Community Shop,  selling new and preloved goods at discounted rates. Until finally through the close of 2024 and into 2025, in light of continued new & diverse support requests and having outgrown our initial Brunswick Village Community Centre HQ, we recently relocated, expanded & rebranded our services to encompass all aspects of poverty including Mother & Baby  & Household support services and in turn the Families 1st MULTI BANK was born.

Understanding first hand, the intersectional & multifaceted experience of struggle & poverty,

our organisation takes a holistic approach to the support we offer.


Utelising the Multi Bank model Families 1st North East provides food & self care parcels,

donated clothes, pre loved furniture, community engagement, sign posting, baby & mother support,

S.E.N advocacy, volunteering opportunities, life skills classes & much more. 


In the short time since operations began we have processed and delivered literally TONS of donations, essential food and care parcels & helped well over 5000 thousands of families & individuals in our local and broader community who were in need of short & long term assistance. We have offered training opportunities and helped hundred of individuals attain essential life skills & support & we continue to meet poverty & struggle head on, through people powered- community driven solutions.


MISSION

Utelising the multi bank model, it is our mission to combat the difficulties and needless struggle faced by many families & individuals within our local and broader community, whilst simultaneously focusing on reducing the unnecessary waste destined for landfills & negatively impacting our environment.


"Poverty is the worst form of violence".

Mahatma Ghandi                

VISION

We envision a cohesive society of collaborative individual community members, contributing to collectively help lighten the load for everyone, irrespective of age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or financial standing. We believe in people powered, community driven, collaborative solutions.


"A rising tide lifts all boats"
John F. Kennedy  


ACTION

We will execute our vision by utilising donations & willing volunteers to provide care, support & education for vulnerable families & individuals, creating helpful new skills and connections that will proliferate beyond our organisation.


"Give a man a fish & feed him for a day. 

Teach him to fish & feed him for a lifetime".

Lao Tzu  


CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

"The North Newcastle foodbank at the is vital to the community because it provides essential support to individuals and families facing food insecurity, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals. Personally, I have used their service, and it has been an amazing support to me, highlighting its crucial role in offering immediate relief and stability to those in need"


- Katie McD

“To whom it may concern


Food banks should not exist! However, I am so pleased that they do. The North Newcastle Food Bank at the Brunswick Park Centre is quite literally a life saver. The help and support offered by all the team, and the donations from local businesses, are making a massive and unquestionable difference to our lives.

We are able to give our children (and ourselves) a better quality diet that would not be possible without this service. The money that we partly save on our food bill helps towards energy bills and providing our children with the things they need.

I hope that one day we will not be so reliant on the Food Bank, however until that time, I am so grateful for the support we receive.

I give permission to anyone at the North Newcastle Food Bank, to use the contents of this email, in any way they see fit, fully or partially, in any way that supports the amazing work they do”.



David Mckitterick

"This is the first time I've ever had to ask for your help and I'm so totally overwhelmed with your kindness. The service you have provided has helped me find some stability & breathing space to be able to continue with my work and family life balance."



-Anonymous Client-


“I do not know what I would have done without the help of Families 1st, following discharge from a 4 month hospital stay in December 2023. Amanda came to my home within 24hrs of discharge. The service she has offered has been personalised, efficient, compassionate and caring."


- Anoymous Client


"I am forever in the debt of Families 1st for their invaluable help, support and advice. I have absolutely no doubt that Amanda and Team have played a huge part in my recovery both physically and emotionally".


-Anonymous Client-

FAMILIES 1st NORTH EAST
MULTI BANK

 WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH...

WHAT WE DO?

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT

FOOD BANK SUPPORT
(Returning soon)

MOTHER & BABY SERVICES

(Self referrals coming soon)


VOLUNTEERING
OPPORTUNITIES

SEN SUPPORT& ADVOCACY

(Self referrals coming soon)

FAMILIES 1ST

COMMUNITY SHOP


HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT
(Self referrals comin soon)


BENEFITS ASSISTANCE

AND SIGNPOSTING

FOOD POVERTY FAQ's

  • What is Food Poverty?

    There is no widely accepted definition of 'food poverty'. However, a household can broadly be defined as experiencing food poverty or 'household food insecurity' if they cannot (or are uncertain about whether they can) acquire “an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways.

  • What Causes Food Poverty?

    Food poverty & food insecurity is caused by a multitude of factors, often but not limited to difficulty accessing suitable jobs, especially for disabled people, people with caring responsibilities and parents (especially mothers). 

  • How Widespread is Food Poverty?

    According to www.FoodFoundation.org.uk In January 2024, 15% of UK households were living in food insecurity, skipping meals and unable to afford groceries. 

  • Food Waste

    Over a third of all food produced globally goes to waste.

  • Children & Food Poverty

    There were 4.2 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2021-22. That's 29 per cent of children, or nine in a classroom of 30!

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