ISSUE DATE: 08 August 2022
A West Midlands-based charity’s thriving Business Club is celebrating its first year of success, with members generating a massive £150,000 worth of support for local children and families.
Acorns Business Club aims to raise funds and inspire support for Acorns Children’s Hospice and its care for life limited children and young people.
Since its launch in Summer 2021, the Club which boasts renowned figures, leaders, and captains of industry from across the region, has gone from strength to strength – with another five big names in business revealed as Acorns Ambassadors this week.
Libby Rowlands, Senior Partnerships Manager at Acorns, said: “We are immensely grateful to each and every one of our fantastic Business Club members and Ambassadors and are incredibly proud of all they’ve achieved over the past year.
“This phenomenal amount of support for Acorns is a celebration of everything they have done to help us continue our work and be there for the local children and children who rely on our care.”
Acorns Business Ambassadors play a key role in raising awareness of the charity within the business community and vital funds towards its children’s hospice care.
Among the new Ambassadors are Gary Fulford, Group CEO at whg; Jamil Shabir, CEO of Bootcamp Media; Kirsty Davis-Chinnock, Managing Director MD of Professional Polishing Services Ltd; Chris Smith, Managing Director and Founder of the Centre for the New Midlands; and Chris Woods, Founder and CEO of CyberQ Group.
Each of Acorns Business Ambassadors joins the charity in a two-year partnership and has committed to raising £5,000 each year.
They will represent the charity at various events during their tenure, from cheque presentations and networking groups to attending public engagements within the business community.
The Business Club meets every quarter under the leadership of Chairman Paul Cadman, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Birmingham University and Acorns Vice President.
Club Chairman Paul Cadman added: “We’re thrilled to have these highly respected business leaders on board championing our children’s hospice care.
“Their passion and expertise will enable us to reach even more people and together, they will help us not only raise awareness of our lifeline services, but vital funds to enable us to be there for every child and families that need us.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened children and support for their families.
In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 700 children and almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.
It cost Acorns £27,000 per day to provide its services, the bulk of which comes from fundraising and partnerships with local businesses.
Acorns Business Club offers exclusive benefits including the opportunity to network with some of the biggest names in business from across the region, access to free training and development opportunities and ‘money-can’t buy’ events.
To find out more about becoming one of Acorns Business Ambassadors, please email the Partnerships Team on partnerships@acorns.org.uk or call 01564 825037.
Acorns Business Ambassadors
Gary Fulford, Group CEO of whg
Gary Fulford is the Group Chief Executive of whg, one of the largest housing providers in the West Midlands.
Gary has over 35 years’ experience working in the housing sector in the Midlands and the South West.
He said: “whg is a registered charity and we pride ourselves on going the extra mile for our customers and communities.”
Jamil Shabir, CEO of Bootcamp Media
Jamil Shabir is the CEO of Bootcamp Media – a digital marketing agency based in the heart of Birmingham City Centre.
Brought up in Balsall Heath, Jamil is one of Birmingham’s most respected businesspeople.
Jamil has a strong desire to mix his commercial endeavours with causes that are close to his heart. He joins Acorns Business Club having worked regularly with the charity.
Kirsty Davis-Chinnock, Managing Director MD of Professional Polishing Services Ltd
Kirsty Davies-Chinnock is the MD of Professional Polishing Services Ltd.
Originally from Birmingham, Kirsty now lives in Staffordshire with her husband and two Labradors.
She is Director and Chair of the British Stainless Steel Association, a Director for Art Business Loans, a Non-Executive Director for TAG Network West Midlands and a Trustee for Birmingham Roller Derby.
Kirsty said: “Acorns provides so much to our local families that I am honoured to become an Ambassador.”
Chris Smith, Managing Director and Founder of the Centre for the New Midlands
Chris Smith is the Managing Director and Founder of the Centre for the New Midlands.
Prior to establishing the regional think tank for the West Midlands, Chris worked for 15 years in the UK Higher Education sector, with extensive experience in stakeholder engagement; fundraising and student recruitment.
He has a deep interest in regional and national politics, as well as the impact that philanthropy can have on driving positive change.
Chris Woods, Founder and CEO of CyberQ Group
Chris Woods is the founder and CEO of CyberQ, a Global Cyber Security Business based in Birmingham, Ohio and Manila.
Chris grew up in Smethwick and lives in the West Midlands, having spent a number of years residing in Italy and Middle East.
A ‘massive’ Aston Villa fan, Chris says: “Acorns has always had a special place in my heart; I can remember Aston Villa under Randy Learner sponsoring the 2008/9 season and now being in a position to help this charity means a great deal to me.”
ENDS
For more information or for interview, photograph or filming opportunities, contact the PR and Communications team:
David Chamberlain: 01564 825020 / 07817 612422 / david.chamberlain@acorns.org.uk
Nicki Robinson: 01564 825062 / 07814 302153 / nicki.robinson@acorns.org.uk
Notes to editors:
About Acorns Children’s Hospice
Due to the sensitive nature of Acorns care services it refrains from using the words ‘terminal’ or ‘terminally ill’ in its press releases and public communications when describing the children who use Acorns and the conditions that they have. Instead, Acorns uses the words ‘life limited’, ‘life limiting’, or ‘life threatening’. Acorns kindly requests that you respect this in your communications when referring to Acorns Children’s Hospice. Acorns children have a lot of living to do. Thank you.
- It costs £27,000 every day to run Acorns services providing care for children and support for their families. The charity relies heavily on donations to fund the majority of its activities.
- To find out more about Acorns, please visit www.acorns.org.uk
