The community pastor supporting those in times of crisis

Huddersfield Elim is sharing Jesus’ love in its community by helping families in bed poverty. Pastor Nicky Wilkinson tells us the story

“I love Minnie Mouse!” squealed the small girl, her eyes lighting up as she held her new Disney pyjamas. Around her the living room was a hive of activity as new beds, duvets and sheets for her and her brother were delivered, but she was curled up on the sofa cuddling her gift.

The delivery to her grandparents’ home in Huddersfield came from Zarach, a charity that helps families in bed poverty.

The girl and her brother had lost one of their parents and were living with their grandparents. They were sleeping in their grandparents’ bed while the couple were sleeping on the floor, unable to afford more beds.

Zarach’s Huddersfield hub, run by Huddersfield Elim’s Nicky Wilkinson, was able to help by supplying the things they needed.

“The children were really excited to have beds and their granddad was so grateful too,” says Nicky. “He said the children had been through so much, but this would change their lives. A bed and bedding is tiny in the grand scheme of things, but it gave them the support they needed in a time of crisis.”

The Huddersfield hub, staffed by Nicky and a team of volunteers from the church, has been delivering beds and essentials in their area since last November. The project started when Nicky was appointed as community pastor in 2021 and was looking for ways to meet needs in the church’s deprived community.

“I asked a teacher if children not having beds was a problem here and they said yes.

“Not having a good night’s sleep really affects their education. I approached Zarach in Leeds to see if we could start a hub in Huddersfield.” Nicky started small, focusing on two neighbouring postcodes as she found storage, sorted logistics and gathered a team of volunteers.

Word of mouth spread among schools, parents, charities, food banks and councillors. Nicky received the first referral from a school last October and over the past year has delivered 47 beds to 24 families. The hub now delivers to the whole of Huddersfield.

Once a school has referred a family, Nicky contacts the parents to check what they need, arranges deliveries, then follows up with them and the school shortly afterwards.

Behind the scenes, supplies are gathered from collection points in schools, shops and businesses.

“We have mattresses, sheets, duvets, covers and pillows, pyjamas, toothpaste and toothbrushes and extras like waterproof sheets – everything you need for a good night’s sleep,” Nicky says.

A team of church members pack them into ‘bed bundles’ of essentials.

“Church has really got behind it. We’ve got people at home knitting teddies for each child and covering us in prayer, then we’ve got delivery drivers and people who help with calls and admin.”

Nicky helps with deliveries and says this is her favourite part of the job.

“It’s seeing people’s faces and giving them something that will make a big difference to their families,” she says.

“A lot of families have escaped domestic violence and come from refuges with nothing.

“One family we worked with recently had four children. They had moved into new accommodation and people had rallied round to provide bits of furniture but the kids were sleeping on the floor.

“When we delivered their beds the children were jumping up and down, they were so excited.

“It was the middle of the day and I returned later to deliver something else.

“The kids all had their pyjamas on already! The pyjamas were something new, just for them. It was so heart-warming to see.”

It’s a simple way to help, Nicky says, but feedback shows that the difference a good night’s sleep makes to a child’s health, behaviour and attitude at school is enormous.

For Huddersfield Elim, another benefit is the connection-building the hub has enabled.

“Our hub has linked us to local councillors, community groups and schools, all of whom can see what we’re doing practically and the effect it’s having.

“We go out and meet a need and people have seen that we’re supporting our community.

“It’s wonderful to see children with their new belongings and to know we’re playing a part in something that’s having such an impact here.”

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

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