Bex Wilson shared the emotional and eye-opening journey that began in 2017 when she discovered that one of her pupils had no bed to sleep on, instead sharing a bedbug-infested sofa cushion with a sibling.

That moment led Bex to buy the child a bed, and sparked the creation of Zarach, a charity committed to ending bed poverty. Since then, Zarach has provided over 13,000 beds to children across Yorkshire, in partnership with more than 500 schools and organisations.

To learn more about Zarach or to support their work, visit: zarach.org/#donate

We also heard from Debbie Watters OBE, Co-Director of Northern Ireland Alternatives, who spoke powerfully about her work in restorative justice, rooted in her personal experience of growing up during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Debbie gave context to the trauma endured by individuals and communities during decades of conflict, and how her organisation uses restorative practices to rebuild trust, heal relationships, and empower local voices. Her message resonated deeply with all of us working to foster equity, belonging, and understanding in our schools and communities.

Recordings of the talks can be accessed via our Members’ Zone here.