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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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