I'm an Assistant Head Teacher at an inner city Primary School in Leeds and after a decade in the job, hungry children, poor living conditions and social care referrals has sadly become the norm. Children beinh hungry or not having a bed is unacceptable. As a city, we are better than that!

Last year, whilst teaching an 11 year boy, I noticed he was scratching his tummy. He told me he and his younger brother shared a cushion to sleep on that it had bed bugs which made his tummy itchy. At the time I was in the middle of teaching a lesson on irregular tense verbs. I realised I had a choice: be satisfied that I'm teaching him grammar because it's what I'm paid to do or continue to be the best teacher I can but also use my time and influence to help make sure every child in our city has their basic needs met in order to get the best education and break the stronghold of poverty.

Just like so many school and public serving staff, everyday I see the effects of children living in poverty. For families who are arriving in our city after the false promise of a new and successful life, parents escaping violent relationships and starting afresh with nothing or those in crisis that the social care and benefit system is unable to help- I'd like Zarach to be part of a solution

Whatever your personal opinion on benefits or immigration policy, the reality is that in our city we have lots of children going to sleep every night hungry and cold. Many without bedding, with bed bugs, sharing beds with several siblings in criwded and damp living conditions. School staff see children in these situations far too often and need more options for how to help them and how to help them quickly!

We know education is the answer to breaking the cycle of poverty. To give all children an equal chance of success at school we'd like to make sure they can EAT, SLEEP & LEARN. In order to achieve this for our city we have set up a charity working in partnership with Bridge Community Church called Zarach. Zarach schools (those freely registered with us) that encounter families without food or appropriate sleeping arrangements can email us with a completed short referral form and the permission of the parent. Within 72 hours of the referral being received we aim to provide a brand new bed, mattress, pillow, duvet, bed sheet, pyjamas and hygiene kit. We work with local foodbanks and local supermarkets to ensure they also have food and for a referral to be successful, schools must provide appropriate school uniform. Hopefully the delivery will be a ray of hope in a dark situation and serve as encouragement to succeed at school.

We've now helped 50 children but have referrals sat in our inbox that we are unable to action as we need money for beds and mattresses. Through a bed supplier in Dewsbury giving us a great price our costs are approximately £60 a set. If we raise £1000 we will be able to help upto 15 families in the next month.

My dad with his van and a few DBS'd friends have volunteered to help with deliveries. Three of my closest friends have joined me as trustees and (after REAMS of charity commission paperwork) we have applied for a charity number. I wanted to wait until everything had come through before we launched on social media but those children need beds now!

Children we've helped so far have been sleeping on tiled floors, bedbug-ridden cushions and plastic garden chairs. In 2018 modern Britain, this should not be happening. Please help us to rectify this.

If you are able to help, every pound will be appreciated and spent directly on beds as our overheads and other items have already been kindly covered and donated. If you are unable to help please share.

Thanks for reading.

Love Bex

xxx