Peterborough charity concerned children are living in bed poverty

Care Zone is one of several organisations part of the council’s crisis resilience fund, a network helping people with food parcels, advice and other services.

Its volunteers clean and repair donated furniture and other household goods, giving out more than 3,500 larger items last year and 425 smaller items, such as saucepans and tin openers.

Of the 1,900 people who used Care Zone last year, about 845 were children.

This year the warehouse is piled high with brand new mattresses ready for families in need.

“We see families that have basically been in temporary accommodation,” said Wilcox.

“There might be a family of five in one single room sharing a few beds, sleeping on the floor, nowhere to cook.”

He said tackling bed poverty was a priority because of the impact it had on children’s education.

“For children in particular, a good night’s sleep is really essential.

“By giving them a bed, they have a much better chance at doing better in school.”

Anyone can donate items to Care Zone, and it is accessed by people being referred through organisations such as the council or their GP.