Zarach, the Leeds-based charity that delivers beds and basics to children living in poverty, has welcomed the news that its petition to create a National Sleep Strategy is to be debated in the House of Commons later this month.
Parliament will debate the subject on Monday 19th December, after the petition garnered over 18,000 signatures in just three months.
“We are absolutely delighted by this news,” said Bex Wilson, founder, and chair of trustees (pictured). “Bed poverty is affecting educational outcomes for children across the UK and a national sleep strategy would resource local authorities to identify, address and ultimately end bed poverty. We encourage everyone to write to their MP and ask that they attend this important debate – the more MPs present the more chance we have of keeping the topic alive and making real change.”
Zarach became a registered charity in 2018 and has since delivered over 3000 beds in Leeds alone. A Bed Bundle costs Zarach £150 and consists of a brand-new bed with high-spec mattress, bedding, pyjamas, a hygiene kit, a Zed Ted bear (knitted and donated by people from all over the world) and a bedtime story book about the importance of sleep.
“The National Sleep Strategy is just one part of Zarach’s work,” Bex continues. “We are currently running our Winter Warmers campaign to help families keep warm this season and give children something to open on Christmas day. We hold a weekly food club that has seen numbers soar in recent weeks. We have our Thrive programme that helps families beyond beds from surviving to thriving and we operate an extensive volunteer programme. But we can’t do all this without support.”
This week the charity launched its Four Ways to Fight campaign, which outlines how everyone can help fight Bed Poverty this festive season.
“Whether it’s giving time or a regular donation, putting the fun in fundraising, having a large corporate organisation making commitments, an individual writing to a local MP, a group starting a Zarach Hub in their area, purchasing much-needed items from our Amazon wishlist, knitting a Zed Ted or simply sharing our social media posts, everyone can do their bit to help,” concludes Bex.
“Join us in our quest to give Every Head a Bed.”
