Why Beds for Kids?

What is Bed Poverty?

According to the Charity Barnardo’s, “Bed poverty is one part of child poverty. Our research found that bed poverty can look different from family to family. It can include:
• broken beds and damaged bedding: families can’t afford to replace or repair unsuitable beds or bedding, for example bedding that has gone mouldy
• sharing beds and rooms: a number of families in our research were sharing beds with their children as they could not afford separate places for them to sleep
• sleeping on the floor: Barnardo’s practitioners mentioned working with parents or children who are sleeping on the floor because they can’t afford beds
• families unable to wash or dry bedding because they can’t afford to pay for energy.”

West of Scotland’s Bed Poverty Profile

In Inverclyde alone, a total of 3,600 youngsters were in hardship in 2022/23. More than a quarter of all children in the district, 26.1 per cent, were classed as living in poverty in 2022/23. (2)
“The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) listings in April 2023 depicts Greenock as the most impoverished town in Scotland and the correlation between food poverty and child poverty is evidenced with Inverclyde Foodbank dispensing over 6000 food parcels to beleaguered families in the last year.” (3)
It is laudable that many organisations (often charities) across the face of Scotland, have chosen to help meet the needs of poorer families, however, there are painfully few charities in the whole of Scotland today who are meeting the need of bed poverty.
We work in collaboration with Social Care Services, Schools and Third Sector Agencies, to identify cases of deprivation, and, guided by these Services and Agencies, deliver ‘Bed Bundles’ (4 )to help alleviate the effects of poverty.

REFERENCES

  1.  https://www.barnardos.org.uk/blog/what-bed-poverty
  2. End Child Poverty (https://endchildpoverty.org.uk/child-poverty)
  3. https://www.childreninpovertyinverclyde.org.uk
  4. A ‘Bed Bundle’ consists of a single bed, fitted sheet, duvet, duvet cover, pillow, pillowcase, pyjamas

Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.
It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.

Nelson Mandela