More than a million British children may be sleeping on the floor or having to share beds, a children’s charity has found.
Barnardo’s said the stark issue of ‘bed poverty’ illustrated the worrying impact of the cost-of-living crisis on children and families.
The survey by YouGov found that over the past year, more than one in 20 children were sleeping on the floor and around one in 10 were sharing a bed with a family member because they did not have one of their own.
Based on the survey, Barnardo’s estimated that there could be as many as 440,000 children sleeping on the floor and 700,000 sharing beds across Britain.
Its staff reported ‘countless examples’ of families using bedding that did not provide enough warmth in freezing temperatures, or that was dirty, mouldy or soiled, and of parents being unable to afford replacing or repairing broken beds and mattresses.
Barnardo’s CEO Lynn Perry said it was ‘unacceptable’ that in one of the richest countries in the world, at least at least one child in every classroom is sleeping in the floor.
Ms Perry 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.
‘Children are sharing beds and sleeping on the floor, all of which is affecting their development, attendance at school and their mental health.
'The Government must take urgent action to address these deep-rooted issues.’
