South Yorkshire’s pioneering Beds for Babies scheme received another boost after a South Yorkshire retailer stepped in to help, ensuring more children aged five and under have a safe place to sleep.
A year after its launch, the Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep programme has already supported more than 2,700 children.
South Yorkshire based Mattress Online who have stores in Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield has contributed beds, cots and other items to support the scheme, meaning more local families can benefit.
The Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep initiative, led by South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, has already delivered more than 3,800 essential items – including moses baskets, cots, toddler beds, mattresses, and bedding bundles - to families across the region.
The scheme is a cornerstone of South Yorkshire Mayor Coppard’s health strategy, focused on practical, community-led solutions to long-standing challenges.
Backed by a £2.2 million investment from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), the scheme is designed to tackle health inequalities, improve early-years development, and ease pressure on public services, with the goal of making South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country.
Image credit: Mattress Online
Steve Adams, CEO at Mattress Online said: “We're proud to be contributing to such a crucial scheme that is directly improving the lives of children and families here in South Yorkshire.
“Sleep is vital to a child's health and development, and every child deserves a safe place to sleep, so we're delighted to be playing our part to support the Beds for Babies: a Safe Space to Sleep initiative with free delivery across the region."
The initiative tackles the often-hidden issue of bed poverty, which can include broken or unsuitable beds, mouldy mattresses, or the complete absence of age-appropriate sleeping arrangements. By addressing these challenges, the scheme aims to improve sleep quality, which is vital for children’s development, learning, and overall family wellbeing.
The scheme is delivered through trusted local referral routes, including midwifery services, GPs, Family Hubs, Children’s Centres, and community organisations and is the result of a collaborative effort involving Baby Basics UK, Save the Children UK, Sheffield Hallam University, IKEA, and many others.
For further information about Mattress Online visit: Sprotbrough Road Retail Park, Doncaster DN5 8BN or call 01302 965927.
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