A local charity is reaching out to residents and businesses in North Staffordshire to support their latest campaign to provide free beds for children in need.

Emmaus North Staffs, a charity that works to tackle furniture poverty, launched the 'Beds for Kids' campaign in 2024 to raise money to buy beds for children who do not have one.

In 2024, the charity delivered just over 400 new bed bundles in 2024 and over 600 in 2025, transforming the lives of over 1,000 children in Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding areas. 

The charity now hopes to build on their success in 2026 and is reaching out to local residents and businesses for support. 

John Webbe, Executive Lead of the charity, said: "We speak to hundreds of families each month, and for a child to be able to have their own comforts has such a positive impact in so many ways and transforms their lives for good."  

The campaign was launched after research by Barnardo's in autumn 2024 revealed that around 9,000 children in Stoke-on-Trent do not have a bed of their own to sleep in. 

The charity explained that families are regularly referred to them for support because they do not have enough beds for their household. 

In some cases, parents and the children are all sleeping in a bed together, in others parents are on the sofa while several children share a bed, and some children are sleeping on mattresses on the floor. 

John added: "The impact on the child's mental and physical health, at the most developmental stage of their lives, is huge. 

"There is a strong link between poor sleep and poor educational achievement and behaviour in the classroom – which can affect their potential for many years into adulthood." 

The charity hopes to tackle child bed poverty by providing a brand-new bed bundle, including a bed frame, mattress and all the necessary bedding to children who do not have one. 

A new single bed bundle costs £199 and a bunk bed bundle to support two children at once, costs £499. 

To find out more about the Emmaus Beds for Kids campaign, visit the Emmaus North Staffs website here. 

To discuss options for your business supporting the campaign or would like to start your own fundraiser, email John Webbe at [email protected] 

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