BEDS FOR BABIES
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has established an innovative new programme to tackle bed poverty across South Yorkshire. Beds for Babies, part of the Safe Place to Sleep programme, will provide children under 5 with a bed and bedding to ensure they have a safe place to sleep.
SYMCA has invested £2.1 million into the scheme, working with Baby Basics UK as the delivery partner for Beds for Babies.
"By guaranteeing families who need it access to a safe bed, crib, cot or moses basket, we can make a huge difference to education, health and social outcomes later in life as well as reducing the real-life financial pressures facing many families in South Yorkshire right now."
Mayor Oliver Coppard
Bed poverty presents itself in many ways including:
- Broken beds
- Mouldy or soiled mattresses and bedding
- Having no choice in bed sharing
- Absence of an age-appropriate bed
A good night’s sleep has been shown to improve a child’s learning and development. It can also improve the whole family’s physical and mental health.
Beds for Babies, Safe Place to Sleep programme is part of the Mayor’s overarching health strategy for South Yorkshire, with one of the region’s bold ambitions focused on early-years development. The Mayor chairs the region’s Integrated Care Partnership, and aims to make South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country.
The programme was developed by a range of partners working with the Mayor including the charity Baby Basics UK. Read more about the Beds for Babies scheme here.
The Beds for Babies scheme can support families through the provision of:
- Cots
- Moses Baskets
- Cot Beds
- Toddler Beds
- Mattresses
- Bedding Bundles
Are you struggling to find a cot or bed for your young child?
Please talk to your midwife, health visitor, social care professional, local family hub or the charity or community organisation that is supporting you. They will be able to make a referral on your behalf.
Are you a professional working with a family in need?
We have partnered with hubs across South Yorkshire to support in delivering this programme. Please email the address below for more details on your local hub: sstsp@baby-basics.org.uk
Are you a business wanting to support Beds for Babies?
Please email the address below for more details on how you can get involved:
The Safe Place to Sleep programme
As well as funding Beds for Babies, SYMCA is also funding 4 test and learn pilots across South Yorkshire to build a detailed evidence base of what works to ensure children have a safe place to sleep.
Each Local Authority has selected a community which faces a range of health and socio-economic challenges. These areas are Gleadless (Sheffield), Goldthorpe (Barnsley), Mexborough (Doncaster) and Swinton (Rotherham).
The delivery of the programme will be led by Family Hubs but the approach in each area will vary given organisations and agencies are working together to co-produce a local approach.