Sir Gareth Southgate has today voiced his support for The Multibank charity, highlighting the vital role it plays in helping families across the UK access essential items – including sports equipment that enables young people to take part in sport.
The Multibank, supported by principal partner Amazon, distributes surplus goods to families in need through a nationwide network of charities and community organisations. Alongside everyday essentials such as toiletries, nappies and household items, some of the most commonly requested items at Multibanks include items like football boots, sports kit, and toys. Through its work with Amazon and other partners, The Multibank has already distributed more than 16 million items to support over two million families in need across the UK – with 9 million items donated directly via Amazon since the charity was founded.
This year, Amazon will donate over 5.5 million items to families in need up, from 4 million in 2025, including 150,000 sports products. Today, Amazon is also announcing a new initiative: for every three selected sports products purchased, a fourth will be donated to The Multibank. Through this programme, tens of thousands of items—such as Mitre footballs, Speedo swimming goggles, and Canterbury rugby boots—will be donated to make sport accessible to all.
The campaign comes as new YouGov data reveals that around one in six parents (15%) say their children have had to give up their sporting ambitions as they can’t afford the kit or equipment to take part. Around three in four (72%) parents of children aged 4–18 believe a lack of access to sports equipment leads to fewer opportunities for those from lower-income families – with two in five parents (40%) with gross household income under £30,000 citing football as the main activity their children had to give up.
Speaking on the importance of access to sport, Sir Gareth Southgate said: “Football gave me so much growing up, and I’ve seen first-hand the role it can play in young people’s lives – not just physically, but for confidence, belonging and mental wellbeing. Over the years, I’ve worked with so many players whose journeys started in difficult circumstances. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t always.
That’s why I am supporting The Multibank, and its work with Amazon to ensure essential items are available to those in need, helping give more young people the chance to take part and feel included in sport.”
John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager of Amazon, said: “Through our work with The Multibank, we’ve seen first-hand the difference that items like sports kit and football boots can make to families. Whether it’s a dad working three jobs to help his daughter afford a new pair of boots, or two brothers sharing a single pair so they can play alternate matches – these are real stories heard at Multibanks, and they show how everyday items that many of us take for granted can be the difference between a child taking part or missing out. I’m incredibly proud of the role our teams and partners play in supporting The Multibank, helping to get essential items to families in need across the UK.”
The Multibank charity works by distributing surplus goods donated by businesses to families in need through trusted local organisations. In London, for example, The Multibank operates in partnership with The Felix Project, which helps ensure donations reach communities quickly and effectively. By working with established local charities, The Multibank is able to respond directly to the needs of families, providing both everyday essentials and items that support wellbeing and participation in activities such as sport.
