South Yorkshire’s Beds for Babies scheme has been delivered another boost after a South Yorkshire business stepped in to help, ensuring more children aged five and under have a safe place to sleep.
A year after its launch, the Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep programme has already supported more than 2,700 children. Now, Rotherham-based Mattress Online has stepped in to deliver beds, cots and other items free of charge to support the scheme, meaning more families can benefit.
The Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep initiative, led by South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, has already delivered more than 3,800 essential items – including moses baskets, cots, toddler beds, mattresses and bedding bundles - to families across the region.
Oliver says: “Our Beds for Babies programe means South Yorkshire children under five have a safe place to sleep, and I’m delighted to see a South Yorkshire company supporting us in that work. One of the key challenges is the delivery of larger and heavier items, so the offer from Mattress Online is really important, meaning we can reach more families in need efficiently and effectively.”
Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep is a cornerstone of Oliver's health strategy, focused on practical, community-led solutions to long-standing challenges. Backed by a £2.2m investment from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), the scheme is designed to tackle health inequalities, improve early-years development, and ease pressure on public services, with the ultimate goal of making South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country.
Steve Adams, CEO at Mattress Online, says: “We're proud to be contributing to such a crucial scheme that is directly improving the lives of children and families here in South Yorkshire. Sleep is vital to a child's health and development, and every child deserves a safe place to sleep, so we're delighted to be playing our part to support the Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep initiative with free delivery across the region."
Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep tackles the often-hidden issue of bed poverty, which can include broken or unsuitable beds, mouldy mattresses, or the complete absence of age-appropriate sleeping arrangements. By addressing these challenges, the scheme aims to improve sleep quality, which it says is vital for children’s development, learning, and overall family wellbeing. The scheme is delivered through trusted local referral routes, including midwifery services, GPs, Family Hubs, Children’s Centres, and community organisations. It is the result of a collaborative effort involving Baby Basics UK, Save the Children UK, Sheffield Hallam University, IKEA, and others.
