In case you're new here...

If you are new to Operation Orphan’s work, you may be unfamiliar with our wide range of projects. Here is an overview of our UK based project Forget Me Notts, and how it helps to keep local children feeling safe, warm, and valued.

Forget-Me-Notts is the local project of Operation Orphan, whose purpose is to meet the practical needs of the most vulnerable children in the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire area, letting each child and young person know they are not forgotten and in turn, improving their emotional and mental wellbeing. Social workers submit referrals to us, and we do our best to fulfil as many as we can.

Requests for beds and mattresses make up the vast majority of our referrals. So many children do not have an adequate or safe place to sleep, and bed poverty has a profound effect on so many aspects of their lives. The feedback that we receive confirms that our support has a huge impact and empowers them to make a difference to these children. Working alongside social workers, we are combating children's bed poverty and the cost-of-living crisis by delivering and installing beds, mattresses and bedding as a priority.

Our local social workers report that many children are found sleeping on the floor or on incredibly soiled and old mattresses. Transforming their bedroom environment and giving them a safe, comfortable place to sleep improves their mental wellbeing in the home, at school and in the community, which supports them to reach their potential.

Our beneficiaries are children and young people from all ethnic backgrounds referred directly by social workers dealing with 'at risk’ children. This is a preventative response aimed at ultimately reducing the number of children who enter the care system, due to preventable measures. Our intervention also aims to help strengthen the relationships between the social worker and the family.

In order to fulfil the ever-growing number of referrals that we receive, we rely on donations from local communities and businesses. We are so grateful to everyone who has donated bedding, beds and household essentials to us, but unfortunately the need outstrips the supply. To date, we have installed over 1700 bed solutions.

If you would like to support Forget Me Notts in trying to tackle bed poverty, check out the links below for ways to help out.