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'Bed poverty' on the rise in the UK

Bed Poverty - Level 0

More than a million children in the UK live in 'Bed poverty'. They have no bed. Many children share beds, and many sleep on the floor. Bed poverty is because people are poorer. Everything is more expensive. Even a bed is now a "luxury" item for poorer people. No bed means children are tired. They cannot concentrate at school.

Bed poverty shows that it is difficult for people in Britain. Parents do not have enough money to buy food to keep their children healthy. Many families have to choose between heating and eating. Bed poverty is bad for children's mental health. People want the government to fix the problem of poverty.

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Bed Poverty - Level 1

A charity said more than a million children in the UK live in 'Bed poverty'. This means they have no bed. Around 700,000 children share beds, and 440,000 sleep on the floor. The charity said bed poverty is because people are poorer because the cost of living has increased. Food, gas and electricity are more expensive. Even a bed is now a "luxury" item for poorer people. Having no bed means children are tired and cannot concentrate at school.

Bed poverty shows that many people in Britain are struggling. It is an example of child poverty. Parents have painful challenges. They do not have enough money to buy things to keep their children healthy. Many families have to choose between heating and eating. They cannot fix a broken bed. Bed poverty is affecting children's mental health. The charity asked the government to take "urgent action" to fix these "deep-rooted issues".

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Bed Poverty - Level 2

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A charity reported that more than a million children in the UK live in 'Bed poverty'. This means they have no bed of their own, or they sleep on the floor, or they share a bed with parents or siblings. Around 700,000 children share beds, and 440,000 children sleep on the floor. The charity said bed poverty is because people are poorer. The cost of living has increased in the UK. Rising food prices and higher energy bills mean poorer people cannot afford basic items. For many families, a bed is now a "luxury" item. Having no bed means children are tired and cannot concentrate at school.

The charity said bed poverty shows that many people in Britain are struggling. It said bed poverty is an example of child poverty. Many parents have painful challenges. They do not have enough money to buy the essentials to raise happy and healthy children. The charity said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials such as food, heating and electricity over things like…fixing…a broken bed." It warned that bed poverty is affecting children's mental health. It called on the government to take "urgent action to address these deep-rooted issues".

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Bed Poverty - Level 3

A children's charity has reported that more than a million children in the UK live in 'Bed poverty'. This means they have no bed of their own to sleep in. They either sleep on the floor or share a bed with parents or siblings. The charity, Barnardo's, said bed poverty is a result of people becoming poorer. The cost of living has greatly increased in the UK. Rising food prices and higher gas and electricity bills mean people on low incomes cannot afford basic items. Barnardo's said for many families, a bed is now a "luxury" item. It said around 700,000 children are sharing beds, while 440,000 children sleep on the floor. This makes children tired, so it is difficult for them to concentrate at school.

Lynn Perry, the CEO of Barnardo's, said bed poverty was just one sign that many people in Britain are struggling. She said: "Bed poverty is just one aspect of child poverty." She added that it highlights the painful challenges that many parents face. She said parents do not have enough money "to afford the essentials needed to raise happy and healthy children". She said: "Families in crisis are having to prioritise essentials such as food, heating and electricity over things like replacing mouldy bedding or fixing a rotten or broken bed." Ms Perry warned that bed poverty is affecting children's mental health. She called on the government to take "urgent action to address these deep-rooted issues".

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