Appeal by north-east charity after children in Aberdeenshire have no bed to sleep in
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North-east children’s charity Abernecessities is asking local people and businesses to help provide beds and cots for children and babies across the region who currently sleep on beds not fit for purpose and in some cases, on sofas and floors.
The charity’s latest campaign, "No Child Should Go Without Sweet Dreams", aims to meet the increasing local demand for beds and bedding, as well as cots for babies.
Since its inception in 2019, Abernecessities has already provided more than 600 beds and mattresses thanks to financial donations from local businesses and the community.
On average, the charity provides more than 25 beds every month and this summer, Abernecessities aims to provide a further 70 children with a safe and warm bed to sleep in at night.
Founder Danielle Fletcher-Horn said: “We have only been operating for three years, but in that time the number of requests we have received has been exponential.
"We saw an immediate need when we began, but since the arrival of Covid, there has been a dramatic surge in demand from families experiencing serious financial insecurity due to loss of employment.
“And now, the frightening increase in the cost of living has put even more people at financial disadvantage and it is heart-breaking that so many parents simply cannot tuck their children into a warm bed at night.
“Every parent wants the best for their children, but for many in our community this is not possible. No child should go without the most basic essentials and that is exactly why we started Abernecessities.
"This campaign calls upon the generosity of local businesses and people to do what they can to help us support those amongst us who are living in poverty.
“For many, the nightly bedtime routine of bubble baths and story books before wishing their children ‘good night’ is commonplace, sadly however, many other parents can only offer a shared bed, a sofa, or a mattress on the floor, which is simply devasting.
"The long-term impact of sleep deprivation and poor sleep can exacerbate physical and mental health conditions and make it difficult for children to concentrate at school.
"We simply cannot expect children to concentrate in a place of learning when they are not getting enough sleep.
"We are determined to create a better and brighter future for our community's most vulnerable and together, we can continue to create and bring about positive change.”
“If you are able to support this initiative and help a child to sleep at night, we ask you to donate at https://bit.ly/3aBl8Lr or https://www.abernecessities.co.uk/donate and give what you can to our Sweet Dreams campaign.
"Our ‘Snug as a Bug’ bundle, which includes a new duvet, pillows, bedding, a storybook, a teddy bear, pyjamas, and a hot water bottle, can be provided for £65, a Moses Basket and bedding is £90, and a single bed with mattress can be given to a child for a £160 donation.
“We are confident the generosity of the people of the north-east of Scotland will mean that many more children in Aberdeen city and shire will have a cosy bed to sleep in at night.”
