The Octagon is Proud to Support Zarach – The Children’s Bed Charity
At The Octagon, we believe that a good night’s sleep should never be a luxury - especially for children. That’s why we are proud to support Zarach, a charity on a mission to end child bed poverty across the UK.
Shockingly almost 900,000 children in the UK do not have a bed of their own. Many are forced to share beds with siblings, sleep on sofas, or even sleep on the floor. The impact this has on them goes far beyond tiredness. Poor sleep can affect a child’s behaviour, concentration and mental wellbeing, with 66% of young people aged 13–19 saying that sleeping badly negatively affects their mental health.
Every child deserves the chance to rest properly, feel safe, and thrive at school and that is exactly what Zarach is working hard to achieve.
Across the UK, around 4 million children are currently living in poverty. As the cost of living continues to rise, many people are facing difficult decisions – often having to choose between buying food and fuel and paying household bills. Sadly, beds have become an unaffordable luxury for some families, leading to what is now known as “bed poverty” where children do not have proper sleeping arrangements because of financial hardship.*
Zarach works directly with schools and local authorities to identify children most in need. Once referred, families receive a complete bed bundle including a bed, mattress, duvet, pillow, bedding and pyjamas, everything needed to provide a safe, warm and comfortable place to sleep.
The difference this support makes is life changing. In fact, 95% of schools say that receiving a bed from Zarach has had a positive impact on the lives of the children they referred.
At The Octagon, we know the importance of comfort, rest and feeling at home. While not everyone has the opportunity to experience life in a luxury apartment, we firmly believe that every child should at least have a bed to sleep in. That’s why we have chosen Zarach to be our charity partner and over the coming months we will be sharing news and updates of how we are contributing to their fundraising goals.
We are honoured to support Zarach and help raise awareness of the incredible work they do. Together, we can help ensure that more children across the UK have the chance to sleep well, feel supported and look forward to a brighter future.
*Barnardo’s, No Crib For A Bed Report (2023)
To learn more about Zarach and the work they do, visit www.zarach.org
