Saddlers fans are being urged to ‘bring a pound to the ground’ for local families this weekend for this season’s first matchday takeover from official charity partners Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Acorns army of volunteers will be at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday (8 October) during Walsall FC’s clash with AFC Wimbledon, raising vital funds towards the refurbishment of the charity’s hospice in the Black Country.
The Room to Grow Appeal aims to raise £750,000 to help modernise the spaces at Acorns Walsall-based hospice, where local life limited children and their families spend precious time.
Claire Snape, Area Fundraising Manager for Acorns in the Black Country, said: “Saddlers fans are truly among the very best and we’re thrilled to be joining our friends at Walsall FC and the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday.
“Be sure to bring a pound to the ground as our amazing volunteers will be holding bucket collections for our Room to Grow Appeal. But don’t worry if you forget your change, we’ll have card payment terminals too to make donating even easier. Every donation you make – however larger or small – will help us create a hospice for the future.”
Acorns was announced as an official charity partner for Walsall FC for the 2022/23 season in July and followed three years of Club and fan support from the Saddlers.
Walsall FC joined the campaign to save the long-term future of Acorns in the Black Country after it was placed at risk of closure due to financial difficulties in 2019.
The Saddlers announced Acorns as a charity partner for the 2019/2020 season, raising over £10,000 towards the successful Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal.
Adam Brearley, Head of Commercial and Retail at Walsall FC, said: “We are delighted to welcome Acorns Children’s Hospice back to the Poundland Bescot Stadium for the season’s first Charity Matchday Takeover. Going back to the summer of 2019, Walsall Football Club have been a dedicated supporter of Acorns and its Black Country hospice and hope to play our part once again to raise vital funds for such a fantastic local charity.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened children and young people, and support for their families, including those who are bereaved.
In the past year, Acorns in the Black Country has supported over 210 children and their families.
The Room to Grow Appeal aims to raise funds towards a number of significant upgrades at the hospice in Walstead Road, something the charity has been unable to do for many years due to financial constraints.
The improvements include the ten children’s bedrooms where children stay for short breaks, emergency or end of life care, and a new purpose-built arts and crafts room.
To find out more about the Room to Grow Appeal, please visit www.acorns.org.uk/roomtogrowappeal
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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:
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
