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Bed poverty pilot aims to offer good night's sleep

Simon Thake
BBC News, Yorkshire
Reporting fromMexborough
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority A large group of adults smiling huddled together in a busy looking community centreSouth Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
The next phase of the Beds for Babies programme has launched with a pilot in Mexborough in Doncaster

A scheme which aims to improve the health of families by helping them get a good night's sleep has been launched.

The South Yorkshire project, run by the Mexborough Family Hub, builds on the Beds for Babies programme launched by the county's elected mayor in 2024.

That initiative provides free cots, beds and baskets to under-fives. The new project expands the offer to parents and older siblings as well as helping families access services such as housing.

Regional mayor Oliver Coppard said they had been looking to widen the scheme: "One in three children in South Yorkshire live in poverty – we have to fix that problem."

Simon Thake A woman in a dark dress and hair tied back stands in a bright room with notices on the walls behind herSimon Thake
Alison Fleetwood will run the pilot and is clear about the need for a good night's sleep for parents and children

Doncaster Council has been given £150k to help with the project, with Mexborough being identified as an area where the cash could make the biggest difference.

Figures suggest 23% of residents in the town are classed as deprived, compared to 16.6% in Doncaster and just under 13% generally across the country.

Anna is one of the people who has been helped by the wider project.

The 40-year-old has two teenagers - and is now pregnant with her third child.

She told the BBC how life could be a "constant struggle".

Anna related how in the past she had ended up with holes in her clothes and shoes as she strove to prioritise her kids' needs.

Under the pilot the Mexborough Family Hub will provide her with a Moses basket for her baby - something she described as "a huge relief".

"You look at the list of things you need for a baby and it's so scary. It's so expensive now," she said.

"I do sometimes think, 'can I afford this baby?' but now I have his basket that's amazing."

Listen: Anna explains how the reality of life for her and her family - and the effect help can have

Alison Fleetwood, service manager at the hub, said "bed poverty" was a huge issue and they had received 20 referrals for families needing help since December.

"Parents are skipping meals because they can't afford to feed themselves as well as children, children are sleeping in dirty and dark conditions because mum can't afford to put heating on

"Sleep is crucial to survival. Parenting is not easy - especially if you haven't had a proper night's sleep," she added.

Referrals to the scheme can come through a variety of other agencies including health visitors, GPs, family hubs and local charities.

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