Our team recently had the privilege of supporting Zarach in delivering beds and mattresses to families in Middlesbrough, Teesside, and Leeds.
Since 2023, thebigword has proudly partnered with Zarach, a charity dedicated to ending child bed poverty in England. Their mission is to ensure every child has a bed of their own, helping them engage in education and break the cycle of poverty. By providing a safe and comfortable place to sleep, Zarach plays a vital role in improving children’s health, wellbeing, and ability to learn.
Operating across West Yorkshire, Tees Valley, Liverpool, Stockport, Stoke, and Romford, Zarach tackles bed poverty head-on. Currently, an estimated 900,000* children in the UK are affected by this issue.
Zarach relies heavily on volunteers, who work alongside their team daily. In our latest volunteering effort, four members of thebigword team joined Zarach over two days to deliver beds and sleeping essentials to families across the country. Here’s what they had to say:
Nathan Conor-Marshall, IT Manager, said: “Volunteering with Zarach, was an incredibly rewarding experience. Taking part in this volunteering has reminded me how powerful small actions can be in changing lives and I would certainly volunteer with Zarach again.”
Gaby Piers, Compliance Manager, commented: “Volunteering with Zarach for the third time has been a truly humbling experience. It’s heartwarming to know that even small efforts can make a difference. The work that Zarach does for the community hits home for me, especially as a parent of a school-aged child. The thought of a child without a bed or blanket is genuinely heartbreaking. Zarach’s efforts are incredible.”
Natalie Wilson, Senior Programme Manager shared: “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to support Zarach in their mission. Delivering beds and sleeping essentials to children without a proper place to sleep was both humbling and deeply rewarding. I wish nothing but the very best for the families I met that day and hope the children love their snuggly new beds! The work Zarach does is truly inspiring, and their passionate, friendly team has my full support. This experience reminded me how important it is both personally and professionally to give back to our communities.”
Monaei Deviana-Horne, Senior People Advisor, said: “Volunteering for Zarach has been such a rewarding experience and what their employees do on a daily basis really is hard work! Zarach does such amazing work for communities all over the country by bringing families essential items so underprivileged children can finally have something to sleep on. On my volunteering day, I was so glad to hear they are constantly expanding and reaching new families nationwide. something as seemingly trivial as a bed that can often be taken for granted can make such an impact on whole communities, and it doesn’t take much to contribute to helping others.”
At thebigword, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is more than a policy, it’s a core value that shapes everything we do. CSR for us goes beyond compliance or occasional volunteering. It’s about embedding empathy, teamwork, and social responsibility into our culture. We actively seek opportunities to support initiatives that deliver tangible social value and improve lives. By prioritizing social value, we help create a better future for everyone.
Together, we can help end bed poverty and give every child the chance to thrive. Join us in supporting Zarach’s mission to end bed poverty. Learn more and get involved at www.zarach.org.
*900,000 Barnardos ‘No Crib for a Bed’ report 2023
