Leeds-based finance recruitment consultancy Headstar has partnered with Zarach, a children’s bed charity, to tackle bed poverty by providing vital support to local families in need.
As part of its Donate A Day initiative, seven Headstar employees helped deliver more than 40 beds to children across Leeds and Bradford who otherwise would not have a bed of their own. Additionally, they assembled over 50 bed bundles, each containing a duvet, pillow, sheet, pyjamas, a Christmas book, and a festive selection box, ensuring children have a place to sleep and a touch of holiday cheer.
Zarach, headquartered in Hunslet, is dedicated to ending child bed poverty in the UK, a widespread issue that affects over 900,000 children nationwide.
The charity provided a record 9,067 beds last year, but the need remains urgent – an estimated 24,000 children in Leeds and Bradford still lack a safe place to sleep. Zarach’s Christmas Appeal aims to change that for 1,000 more children, offering them not just beds but brighter futures.
All referrals for beds are made through schools, and Zarach has a specialist family engagement team that provides ongoing support beyond bed deliveries. This team ensures families can access vital resources such as food, fuel, and key support services. By partnering with The Sleep Charity, NSPCC, and trauma-informed practitioners, Zarach is able to work with families in a way that prioritises safety and well-being for everyone involved.
Andy Peers, Chief Executive of Zarach, emphasised the importance of partnerships in achieving their mission:
“The continued growth of Zarach relies on increasing our funding, donations, and volunteer support. There is great power in community action, and we are so thankful for companies like Headstar, whose volunteers help to make a lasting impact on the lives of local children. Every bed will last at least eight years, giving children the opportunity to engage at school and a chance to break the future cycle of poverty.”
“Zarach is such a great charity, and we were really happy to help,” added James Roach, Managing Director at Headstar. “It’s nice to know more children will have beds to sleep in tonight as we continue our work to support our local community.”
The Donate A Day initiative is part of Headstar’s employee wellbeing programme, providing the team with an opportunity to support regional charities and give back to local communities. Headstar has run this initiative for several years, enabling the team to support a range of organisations including the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hull Animal Welfare Trust.
To learn more about Zarach’s incredible work or find out how you can support their mission, visit www.zarach.org.
This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of Headstar
Photo: Headstar volunteers alongside Zarach’s bed-bundle delivery van
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
