Children have been collecting piles of pennies to give to a charity that aims to end bed poverty so that youngsters get a good night’s sleep to be ready for school.

Scargill Infant School in Rainham raised £345 and an extra 54 pennies piled up in the playground which has been given to the Zarach charity.

The school chose Zarach which is committed to ending child bed poverty.

A special school assembly was organised to set up the fundraising. Several children and their families even donated bundles including new bed, mattress, pillow and duvet covers and even pyjamas.

“The referral process is quick and easy,” one staff member explained. “The bed bundles arrive within a short time.

“The parents have been over the moon with the support that the Zarach charity provides.

“We are able to contribute directly to improving the lives of our pupils by supporting Zarach, so the youngsters have the essentials for learning.”

A hub for the charity is based at Romford Elim Church. Pastor Glen Podd and his volunteers have been contacting Havering schools since opening in 2021, which has provided 350 bed bundles so far.

The bed bundle idea began in 2017  (Image: Scargill Infant School)

An estimated one-in-ten children in Britain have had to share a bed or sleep on the floor in the last 12 months, according to a poll for the Barnardo's children’s charity.

The bed bundle idea to help youngsters in poverty began in 2017 when Bex Wilson, a deputy head teacher at a primary school in Leeds, noticed an 11-year-old boy was not his usual self and asked if he was feeling tired.

The child’s response was: “Miss, I am always tired. I don’t have a bed.”

The shock of hearing the child was not getting much sleep at night led Bex to create Zarach.

Her mission is to provide 1,000 beds a week by 2027, working to end child bed poverty in partnership with schools like Rainham’s Scargill Infants in Mungo Park Road to “give every head a bed”.

A good night’s sleep creates an equal opportunity at school, the charity points out.

Wellwishers can donate or volunteer to help through the charity’s zarach.org website.