Funding has come from Stoke-on-Trent ward budgets with support from local councillors, along with significant assistance from children’s bed charity Zarach – who set up a hub at the Emmaus North Staffs Home and Furniture Emporium, in Etruria last December following a partnership between the two organisations.

John Webbe (pictured), Executive Lead at Emmaus North Staffs, said: “We are really pleased to have been able to support more local families by providing over 100 new bed kits – which include beds, bedding and a mattress – in the first four months of the year.

“It really is devastating when you learn of more and more families who cannot provide a bed – a home essential – for their children. No one should be without a bed and with thanks to the support we have so far received this year we have been able to help more local people.”

John added: “It has been incredible to work with members of our local communities and with Zarach – who like us – are determined to end bed and furniture poverty as a whole in the UK, and are doing amazing things themselves.

“We believe in helping to educate others and that every child should have equal opportunities to learn. By not having a bed to sleep in at night can have a serious negative impact on a child’s learning, and general well-being, and we want to end this.”

Jess Sandy, Regional Hubs Manager at Zarach, said: “Zarach is delighted to partner with Emmaus North Staffs as we strive in our mission to end child bed poverty. For many families living in poverty, the bed has become a luxury item, with an estimated 280,000 (Barnardo’s No Crib for a Bed report), parents having to choose whether to buy food and fuel or a bed for their child in the last 12 months.

“It is essential for children’s health and ability to learn in school that they can sleep in a bed of their own. Through the support and dedication of charities like Emmaus, we can continue to reach children all over England, breaking the cycle of poverty one bed at a time. Thank you, Emmaus for all of the beds delivered.”

In recent months support for the Beds for Kids campaign has also been received from fundraising efforts in the local community which will see more beds delivered in the coming months.

In April Tesco Extra Community Champion, Katie Higgins helped to organise a raffle at the charity’s store in the Potteries Centre and following the donation of a large Easter basket more than £400 was raised towards the campaign.

In June twelve-year-old Fran from Stoke-on-Trent is embarking on a 40 kilometre trek at Loch Ness, in Scotland to raise funds for Beds for Kids.

Leeds-based children’s bed charity Zarach has partnered with a number of organisations, including schools, to give #EveryHeadABed around the country.

For more information about Emmaus North Staffs Beds for Kids campaign please visit https://emmaus.org.uk/north-staffs/beds-for-kids/