Thousands of children across Merseyside in 'bed poverty'
The Time For Bed campaign has launched with the intention of providing every child in the region with their own bed to sleep in at night.
Last updated 22nd May 2023
18,000 children in Merseyside do not have their own bed to sleep in at night.
The figures have been released by the charity End Furniture Poverty, which is launching the Time for Bed fundraising appeal. The aim is to raise enough money to give away new beds and bedding to children and young people across the region.
Merseyside author and Bafta nominee Frank Cottrell-Boyce is fronting the campaign. He said: “Think about your childhood bed - a place of dreaming, hiding, cuddles and of course sleep. A place of safety. Maybe you shared it with a soft toy or a sibling. Maybe you decorated the headboard with football stickers.
“Now imagine you never had a bed to call your own. Nowhere to dream, to cuddle, to curl up in safety, to sleep.
“That’s the reality for thousands of children on Merseyside. That’s why the Time for Bed campaign is so important for our children.
“Everyone has the right to a good night’s sleep. No child can thrive without it.
“We want every child in Merseyside to have a bed of their own. It’s not much to ask.
It’s everything to our children.”
End Furniture Poverty is part of FRC Group, a group of charities that includes Bulky Bob’s, and have been active in Merseyside for over 30 years, giving away free furniture and helping to lift people out of furniture poverty.
Claire Donovan, Head of Policy, Research & Campaigns, at End Furniture Poverty, said: “These figures are part of a major national research project revealing how many people are living without essential furniture items.
“The Merseyside figures show just how extensive this problem is as thousands of children are sleeping on the floor, on sofas, sharing with siblings, and just not getting a good night’s sleep. This leads to problems with development, at school and a whole range of other issues.
“We know how generous the people of Merseyside are and we hope they will all get on board and help us to raise the funds to get these children a safe and warm place to sleep at night.”
People can donate through the Time for Bed website, which also contains lots of fundraising ideas, as well as details of how businesses can support the appeal.
The appeal is partnering with Merseyside schools for referrals. Schools will be registered with Time for Bed and can refer any pupil and their siblings, aged from 0 to 18 will be eligible for support which includes cots, beds, bunk beds and bedding packs.
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