Thousands of children have no bed, charity says

A charity working to reduce furniture poverty has said there are believed to 9,000 children in Stoke-on-Trent without a bed of their own.

Emmaus North Staffs launched its Beds for Kids campaign in 2022, and demand for help has risen this year, with even greater demand for beds expected in 2026.

The Hanley-based charity expects to have delivered more than 500 brand new bed bundles to local families in need by the end of 2025.

"Poverty is really, really tough in Stoke," said John Webbe, executive lead at Emmaus North Staffs, who said even their efforts "only just scratched the surface."

For people struggling with food and fuel poverty, support could be found relatively quickly and cheaply, but furniture was different, said Mr Webbe.

"If you're on benefits or low income, spending a couple of hundred quid to buy second hand beds for your children is beyond the reach of many people," he said.

"People just get by in whatever way they can, which might just be a mattress on the floor for the children," he said.

Last year the charity delivered more than 400 beds, which Mr Webbe said he was "amazed by," as he had set himself a target of 200.

Even with 500 beds delivered this year, he said the charity still had "a long, long way to go, and more people are coming through all the time".

People in need of support can approach the charity via its website or its store on New Hall Street, Hanley.

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