Being an assistant headteacher in an inner-city Leeds school, Bex Wilson, our founder, had all too often seen the devastating effects on children of hunger and poor living conditions.
Back in 2018, when teaching a year 6 class, Bex noticed a boy scratching his tummy. He told her that he and his brother slept on a cushion. The cushion had bed bugs which made his tummy itchy.
At this point, Bex was determined to use her time and influence to make a difference for families like these, and after rallying friends and family to provide beds for this boy and his brother, Zarach was born.
What started as a grassroots effort has grown into a national charity, strengthened by compassionate donors, volunteers, and partners. Over the years, Zarach has provided thousands of children with a bed to call their own, but the journey doesn’t stop here. We’re committed to expanding our reach and offering hope to even more families, creating lasting change in the lives of children.
Imagine a child, eager to learn and dream, but too exhausted to concentrate at school because they spent another night sleeping on the floor.
This is the harsh reality for hundreds of thousands of children across the UK facing bed poverty*. At Zarach, we believe every child deserves a safe, comfortable bed to sleep in, and the opportunity to thrive in school and beyond.
Right now, parents are sacrificing their own beds, children are left sleeping on the floor, in baths, or sharing inadequate, damaged, or soiled beds. This is having a devastating impact on their health, well-being, and school engagement.
We are committed to advocating and campaigning for a society where every child has a bed of their own. Until then, we will continue to expand our reach; supporting families, lifting children out of bed poverty, and delivering quality beds that ensure 8 years of good sleep.
*900,000 Barnardos ‘No Crib for a Bed’ report 2023
Our Opportunities
Zarach is on a mission to end child bed poverty, giving children the opportunity to engage at school and a chance to break the future cycle of poverty.