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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Business
Alex Grove

Poverty-stricken Leeds mum breaks down in tears as she speaks about daughter 'sleeping on a beanbag'

A poverty-stricken Leeds mum whose teenage daughter was sleeping on a beanbag broke down in tears when she was gifted a brand new bed, mattress and bed sheets by an ex-primary school teacher looking to eradicate bed poverty.

Bex Wilson has been labelled a "hero" for her work in setting up Zarach - a charity which provides beds for children in poverty in Leeds.

In 2021, she appeared on BBC Breakfast and revealed a harrowing story about one of her pupils who was sleeping on a 'bedbug infested' cushion on the floor. The youngster, who was in Year Six at the time, told Bex he did not have a bed to sleep on at home - and was "always tired".

Read more: Anger as Leeds family want to have baptism party for son until 5am

Bex founded the charity in 2017 and it has since gone from strength to strength. Earlier this year, she featured on Good Morning Britain where she was inundated with praise and she has also appeared multiple times on BBC's Morning Live.

Recently, Bex's charity work was featured on the show and a clip was shown of a moving exchange between the teacher and Laura, who had just moved into the Leeds area with her 14-year-old daughter Precious.

Precious was sleeping on a bean bag and Zarach was able to help Laura by providing a bed, mattress and sheets for the youngster. Bex showed the struggling parent the bedding she was going to get for her teenage daughter and told her she was an "amazing" mum for reaching out for support to help her family.

Bex Wilson gave Laura a big hug (BBC)

Mr Motivator, who joined Bex to investigate the issue of bed poverty, asked Laura: "Are you OK standing there?" She tearfully replied: "I am OK, it's just we've been through a lot to be honest and just having this support has... It's the last thing I thought I'd have to do."

Bex then leaned in and gave Laura a hug to comfort her before the bed was taken inside and up to her daughter's bedroom.

Laura then later told Morning Live: "It's been a lifeline. My daughter doesn't have to sleep on a bean bag in her room now. Now she can have a better night's sleep in her bed and feel like herself again."

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