back to school support – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Amazon employees donate back-to-school kits to Multibank Scotland

Employees at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline have packed and donated 700 back-to-school kits to Multibank Scotland, helping families prepare for the new school year.

The kits were packed by 60 Amazon employees during a dedicated volunteering event at the Dunfermline fulfilment centre. Containing essential school supplies for both primary and secondary school pupils, the kits will be distributed by Multibank Scotland to families across Fife, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh ahead of the new academic year.

Multibank Scotland provides essential items to people experiencing financial hardship by working with charities, schools and community organisations across Fife, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh. The partnership helps ensure families can access everyday essentials when they need them most.

Natasha Blyth, an employee at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline who took part in the kitting event, said: “We’re pleased to support Multibank Scotland with this donation ahead of the new school year.

“Preparing children for a new term can be a significant expense for many families and we hope these back-to-school kits will provide practical support where it’s needed most.”

Grant Barnes, from Multibank Scotland said: “Thank you to Amazon and its employees for this donation of back-to-school kits.

“The cost of school supplies can be a real challenge for many families, and these kits will help ensure hundreds of children have the essentials they need to start the new school year ready to learn.”

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates.

Amazon co-founded Multibank Scotland in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 12 million surplus goods to over 800,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham.

This year, the Multibank will send 1 million orders to families across the UK.

Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

MSP highlights support for local families as schools return

GORDON MACDONALD HIGHLIGHTS SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FAMILIES

As children across Edinburgh head back to school, local SNP MSP Gordon Macdonald has highlighted the wide range of support available to help families with the cost of learning, including almost 7720 Best Start Grant – School Age Payments worth a total of ££2,132,033 paid out to local families in the last year.

The Best Start Grant – School Age Payment is a one-off payment of £314.45 to eligible families when their child starts primary school, helping with essentials such as school uniforms, shoes, and bags. This is in addition to the Best Start Foods payment card, which supports families with the cost of healthy food throughout the year.

The SNP Government has also expanded free school meals to all pupils in primary 1-5, with plans to extend this to all primary pupils in the lifetime of this parliament. Free school meals save families hundreds of pounds each year while ensuring every child has access to a healthy, nutritious lunch.

To help with the cost of uniforms, the SNP has increased the national minimum School Clothing Grant to at least £120 for primary pupils and £150 for secondary pupils, available through local councils to eligible families.

Commenting, Gordon Macdonald MSP said: “The start of the school year is an exciting time for children, but it can also be a financially challenging time for families. That’s why I’m proud that in the last year alone, 7720 payments worth ££2,132,033 have gone to families in Edinburgh through the Best Start Grant – School Age Payment.

“From the Best Start Grant and School Clothing Grants, to free school meals and the Scottish Child Payment, the SNP is taking real, practical action to support families and tackle child poverty.

“While Labour austerity continues to squeeze household incomes, the SNP is using the powers we have to put money in the pockets of families across the city ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.”

Local authority area	[NUMBER]Number of Best Start Grant – School Age Payments	[VALUE]Value of Best Start Grant – School Age Payments
Total	123,760	£34,282,276
Aberdeen City	3,835	£1,069,876
Aberdeenshire	3,680	£1,023,971
Angus	2,520	£701,794
Argyll and Bute	1,595	£442,300
Clackmannanshire	1,390	£384,647
City of Edinburgh	7,720	£2,132,033
Dumfries and Galloway	3,390	£938,326
Dundee City	4,220	£1,163,392
East Ayrshire	3,550	£984,048
East Dunbartonshire	1,380	£381,962
East Lothian	2,290	£635,244
East Renfrewshire	1,360	£375,589
Falkirk	3,685	£1,021,533
Fife	9,345	£2,589,965
Glasgow City	19,650	£5,435,352
Highland	4,450	£1,235,628
Inverclyde	1,965	£545,416
Midlothian	2,425	£671,369
Moray	1,820	£504,864
Na h-Eileanan Siar	370	£101,721
North Ayrshire	3,920	£1,086,398
North Lanarkshire	9,810	£2,722,056
Orkney Islands	295	£81,663
Perth and Kinross	2,730	£760,952
Renfrewshire	4,045	£1,118,702
Scottish Borders	2,285	£632,014
Shetland Islands	315	£86,440
South Ayrshire	2,475	£681,893
South Lanarkshire	7,420	£2,057,810
Stirling	1,475	£408,767
West Dunbartonshire	2,825	£777,359
West Lothian	4,685	£1,298,664
Unknown – Scottish postcode	75	£21,509
Unknown – Non-Scottish postcode	650	£176,888
Unknown – No postcode	115	£32,131

Edinburgh School Uniform Bank: Back To School support

One bag, BIG impact!

A single donation can change a school year for a child whose family is struggling to make ends meet.

By donating £15 you’ll help us buy a new school bag and pencil case for a child who otherwise will start school without these basic items. Help us give children the tools and confidence they need to thrive this school year.

How You Can Help: