2026 is here and Acorns is calling on the community to make a New Year’s resolution that truly matters.
From unforgettable challenges to family fun, volunteering, and everyday acts of kindness, there are countless ways to support local children with life-limiting conditions and their families who rely on Acorns every day.
To give you some inspiration for the year ahead, Acorns has revealed its Top 10 ways to do good – and feel great – in 2026:
Vicky Smith, Director of Income Generation at Acorns, said: “The New Year is a time when many of us want to feel healthier, happier and more connected. Supporting Acorns lets you do all of that – while helping children and families who need us more than ever.
“It takes a whole community to keep Acorns running. Whatever way you choose to get involved in 2026, you’ll be helping us provide the care and support seriously ill children and their families deserve.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and support for their families.
In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 800 children across the West Midlands, and supported over 1,100 families, including those who are bereaved. Children visit Acorns for rehabilitative respite, symptom management, emergency and end-of-life care.
This care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community and in family homes.
Acorns needs around £40,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with more than 75% of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
Make 2026 the year you do something amazing. Find out how you can get involved at: www.acorns.org.uk/make-a-difference
The hospice in Selly Oak, which provides care for around 250 children and their families every year, has received the highest possible rating from Government inspectors.
In their report, published today (Wednesday 22 October), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has described Acorns in Birmingham as ‘performing exceptionally well’. Inspectors praised the team’s ‘strong collaborative approach’ to care and focus on achieving ‘the best outcomes’ for every child and young person, with safety described as ‘a top priority that involved everyone’ and support extending to the ‘whole family and not just the child’.
Katie Burbridge, Director of Care and Executive Nurse at Acorns, said: “We are thrilled to receive an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It reflects the dedication, passion and excellence of our care team, whose skill and commitment families already know and trust. Every day, they go above and beyond because the children we care for deserve nothing but the very best.
“Acorns exists for the children and families we support, and everything we do is driven by our purpose – to positively impact children with short lives. This recognition is as much for them as it is for our team. Every smile we see and every moment we share reminds us why we do this work.
“While we are enormously proud of this Outstanding achievement, it will inspire us to keep evolving and innovating to future proof our services so we can continue providing exceptional care and support for every child and family who needs us now and in the years to come.”
Trevor Johnson, Chief Executive at Acorns added: “This Outstanding rating is a powerful reflection of the incredible work of our teams every single day. It celebrates their commitment, compassion and the exceptional standards they deliver for children and families. It also shows our supporters, donors and partners that their belief in Acorns is well placed.
“At the same time, we are reminded that our work is never done. The needs of children and families continue to change, and we will always adapt our services to fit.”
Acorns in Birmingham was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in July. It is one of three Acorns hospices providing specialist palliative care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions and vital support for their families across the West Midlands.
The hospice was last inspected in 2016 under the adult social care system, when it was also rated Outstanding. It is among the first hospices in England to be assessed using the CQC’s new framework, which measures children’s hospices against the same rigorous standards as hospitals – recognising the high level of medical, clinical and nursing care they provide.
Following the new inspection, Acorns in Birmingham was again commended for its excellence, with inspectors rating the hospice as Outstanding for how caring, responsive, effective and well-led it is.
At the time of the visit, the hospice was undergoing improvement works. As a result, the final area of ‘safe’ was rated as Good – the highest level achievable while the work was underway. The refresh project is now complete.
Inspectors described the hospice as exceptionally well-led, with a culture rooted in transparency, equity, inclusion and a deep understanding of children and families’ needs. Leaders and staff demonstrated integrity, openness and compassion, fostering an environment where staff felt ‘valued and respected’ and able to raise concerns.
Care was praised as highly-personalised and compassionate, with each service user treated as an individual, taking into account each child’s ‘needs, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics’, and with support extending to the whole family. Volunteer involvement was recognised as ‘invaluable and well received by the families’.
The report highlighted the hospice’s effectiveness and responsiveness, with staff thoroughly assessing and reviewing needs, planning care together with children and families and in partnership with other healthcare providers, so ‘people only needed to tell their story once’.
Services were found to be flexible and inclusive, tailored to diverse needs, and aimed at supporting children and young people to live as fully and independently as possible, knowing their rights and providing ‘choice and control over their own care’.
Inspectors found safety to be a clear focus throughout the service, noting that ‘safety and continuity of care was a priority throughout people’s care journey’. High standards were consistently maintained and closely monitored, underpinned by a strong understanding of safeguarding and a holistic approach to managing risk. Staff were also commended for maintaining ‘a clear focus on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety’.
Inspectors also noted that the hospice had achieved a gold accreditation by UNICEF for its work embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Following the publication of the report, Amanda Lyndon, CQC Deputy Director of Operations in Birmingham, said: “We were pleased to visit Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham and find they had maintained an exceptional level of care. They put children and young people at the centre of everything they did to provide exemplary treatment and support, making a difficult time easier for the whole family.
“People told us they were delighted with the service and that lovely staff treated them with warmth and kindness. We also heard how much families appreciated staff extending support to the whole family to support them as part of their loved one’s care.
“We observed staff involving people in their assessments and considering their communication needs and personal preferences. They ensured people were involved in decisions and could make choices about their care, while regularly reviewing assessment plans to make sure people received effective care that met their needs.
“Strong leadership helped shape care, as leaders constantly developed the service by learning from feedback and making improvements. They fostered an open culture where people and staff felt comfortable raising concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly and shared their findings with staff.
“Staff continuously looked for ways to monitor and measure people’s outcomes and had identified that while several tools were available nationally for people in adult hospices, fewer existed for children and young people. In response, they worked with another hospice network to identify what data they collected and how they could adapt this, which improved their insight and understanding of people’s care and outcomes.
“Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham did everything possible to continually develop their services and give young people and their families the best possible experience and outcomes. Other care services should look at this report to see what they can learn.”
Opened in 1988, Acorns is Birmingham was the charity’s first hospice site – and only the second in the world. Over the past 37 years, the hospice team has provided lifeline care to thousands of children and their families across Birmingham and Warwickshire.
Acorns hospices in Walsall and Worcester, opened in 1999 and 2005 respectively, are also expected to undergo the same rigorous inspection in the coming months.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support for their families.
Children receive care at Acorns for rehabilitative respite, pain and symptom management, emergency and end-of-life care, as well as through community nursing and family support in their homes and local communities.
Acorns needs around £35,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care across the West Midlands, with more than 70% of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
Read the full report here.
Music fans who thought they’d missed out on seeing Ozzy Osbourne reunite with Black Sabbath one last time are being given another chance to witness rock history – thanks to a local children’s hospice charity.
Acorns Children’s Hospice is offering a limited number of coveted tickets to Back to the Beginning at Birmingham’s Villa Park next month as part of a special prize draw and online auction launching today (Monday 16 June).
The iconic show on Saturday 5 July marks the last time Ozzy Osbourne will ever perform live with Black Sabbath and will see the rock legends take to the stage leading an all-star line-up including Metallica, Slayer and Pantera.
All funds raised from the draw and auction will go directly towards Acorns care for seriously children and their families across the West Midlands.
Trevor Johnson, Chief Executive at Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “Back to the Beginning will be one of the biggest events in rock history. For rock and metal fans it’s an unmissable moment – and for those who didn’t get tickets, this could be your last chance to be there.
“We’ve managed to secure a few of the last remaining tickets for our special online auction and prize draw. It really is an 11th-hour opportunity. Time is short, there are less than two weeks to enter.
“But this isn’t just a once-in-a-lifetime show, it’s a chance to change lives. Behind every auction bid and every prize draw entry is support for hundreds of local families caring for seriously ill children. This is your chance to be part of something extraordinary – your support will leave a lasting impact, far beyond the music.”
Back to the Beginning is a true celebration of rock and heavy metal and will see Ozzy Osbourne play his own short set before joining with Black Sabbath for his final bow.
Acorns Children Hospice is one of three good causes to benefit from proceeds from the show.
The all-day event will also feature sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice In Chains, Lamb Of God, Anthrax and Mastodon as well as a supergroup of musicians including Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns ‘n Roses, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, Wolfgang Van Halen and Korn’s KK Downing.
There are two ways to get your hands on tickets for this gig-of-a-lifetime with Acorns:
Entries for both the auction and draw close at 5pm on Thursday 3 July, age restrictions apply. Winners will be contacted on Friday 4 July.
Every penny raised for Acorns will help the charity continue its specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support for their families.
More than 780 children across the West Midlands are cared for by Acorns every year, receiving rehabilitative respite, symptom management, emergency and end-of-life care from the charity’s high-trained nursing teams.
Acorns care and support is provided from the charity’s three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.
Around £35,000 is needed each day to provide Acorns children’s hospice care, with 72% of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
Turn your love of music into lasting care – enter Acorns Back to the Beginning prize draw or make a bid in the online auction now. Visit: www.uk.givergy.com/BTTB
Today (Friday 29 November) MPs voted in favour of a bill to allow assisted dying.
At Acorns, our position is that this change in law must include a guarantee that quality palliative care is properly funded and available to all who need it – whoever they are and wherever they live.
We call on the Government to ensure palliative care organisations are properly consulted as part of this change in law. Without this, we risk stumbling into legislation that has not had the benefit of such expert input and will miss the opportunity to open a wider conversation about choice and control for individuals nearing the end of their life.
Access to palliative care in the UK is inconsistent and the organisations that provide these essential services are unsustainably funded. Any decision on assisted dying must address the ongoing uncertainties these vital services face.
Whilst the debate so far has been focused mainly on the potential impact on adults over the age of 18 – this change in law has implications for young people and the services that support them, as care pathways to transition from these services often start at age 14.
We support the position of Together for Short Lives (TfSL) that there are important physical, emotional and psychological differences between young people and older adults that any new legislation must address. Parliament must consider appropriate safeguarding measures, while also ensuring young people still have the essential ability to choose their own care.
Regardless of any changes in legislation in this area, our mission will remain the same; that every child or young person who needs us will be given the highest level of clinical care and compassion and their families will be supported, for as long as needed.
As the nation wakes up to a new government, families cared for by Acorns across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire remain in a precarious position.
Caring for a child with complex needs can cause immense pressures on families. Acorns exists to help take the strain, and for many families that we care for that means literally pulling them back from the brink.
To imagine a future where a service like ours no longer exists, leaving families completely alone; it doesn’t bear thinking about.
However, because of ongoing funding challenges, that is the reality Acorns and the UK’s children’s hospices are facing.
Across the sector, a key source of our income – the ringfenced, £25 million Children’s Hospice Grant is at risk, meaning children’s hospices will be unable to deliver the range of essential services families rely-on.
The grant is confirmed this year, but the picture after this is unclear and questions remain about how much (if any) of the current grant children’s hospices will receive.
Without this guarantee, right now Acorns and many other children’s hospice providers are being forced to make difficult decisions about cutting vital services.
As the new government is formed, and Sir Keir Starmer selects his cabinet, this is the primary issue our sector wants firmly on the agenda. We owe it to the countless children and families across the UK who rely on our services, before it’s too late.
We are calling on the new government to protect and maintain the Children’s Hospice Grant as a directly distributed, ringfenced grant, so Acorns, and every children’s hospice in England can continue providing the care children and families desperately need.
To give Acorns and local families the assurances we need, we are also asking the government to guarantee the Children’s Hospice Grant for at least five years and increase it by the rate of inflation, every year.
By guaranteeing this funding, it will allow Acorns to be there for every child and family who needs us. Please consider campaigning for Acorns to help spread the word.
Download our template letter and contact your new local MP to ask them what steps they would take to ensure Acorns and our vital work is protected, now and forever.
Trevor Johnson,
Acorns Chief Executive
You might not find the kitchen sink at a Birmingham charity’s huge new superstore but you’ll find everything else – from designer fashion and children’s toys to homeware and even a washing machine!
Acorns Children’s Hospice is opened its biggest-ever shop in Erdington today (Thursday 27 March) in the former Boots retail unit on High Street.
And as these images show, the shop boasts top-quality pre-loved items for all the family at bargain prices.
Gary Pettit, Director of Retail at Acorns, said: “This is a big moment for Acorns – we’re thrilled to open not just our biggest ever superstore but our first shop in the Erdington community.
“Shoppers will find our complete range of pre-loved items, plus more bargains than before all under one roof.
“Come and take a look at what Acorns Erdington has to offer and celebrate as we make our Erdington debut.”
Acorns Erdington superstore measures nearly 5,000 square feet and is home to top-quality fashion, shoes, accessories, toys, books, homeware and furniture.
The shop will play an important role in raising vital funds towards the charity’s care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions and is one of Acorns 45 shops across the West Midlands.
Gary added: “Whether you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe, treat your child or renovate a room, our superstores have everything you need! And remember, proceeds from every item sold will help us continue to be there for local children and families.
“Help can’t wait for families who are in urgent need of our lifeline care and support. Thanks to people shopping at Acorns, we can continue to raise the funds we need to ensure no family caring for a life limited or life threatened child ever faces their journey alone. Together, we are stronger.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support for their families.
In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 750 children across the West Midlands, and supported almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.
This care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.
Acorns needs around £30,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
To find your nearest Acorns shop, visit our find your shop page.
Mum Sam Barklam reveals how support from Acorns helps local families like hers.
“I’ll never forget that first visit from Acorns, it was just like an angel was coming to help me.” For mum Sam, the visit came at a time when the world was crashing down. Her own mum had passed away, her marriage was ending, and her baby boy Alex had been diagnosed with a life threatening condition. “I was just so frightened,” she said. “Those first 12 months were the worst in my entire life. I don’t know how I made it through.”
Today, Alex is a cheeky and affectionate four-year-old – he loves frogs and frog noises and enjoys watching the neighbourhood dogs going for a walk.
Alex has Smith Lemli Opitz Syndrome, a rare genetic condition, that affects the organs and can cause severe intellectual and behavioural difficulties.
Sam’s referral to Acorns came at the perfect time. She had been going weeks without proper sleep, juggling home life, caring for Alex and looking after young daughter Elisabeth, below with Acorns Sibling Worker Jess.
Sam said: “I didn’t believe that there were actually people out there that could help me. I genuinely don’t know what I’d have done without Acorns. I didn’t know how much longer I would have been able to live like that. They literally lifted me up from rock bottom.”
Sam’s first visit to Acorns in the Black Country was an experience she describes as ‘simply amazing’.
“It just took away all the pressures of the life and gave me a break,” she said. “It just doesn’t feel like a hospice, and it’s so comforting when you get there. All the staff who work there are amazing, and they’re always so friendly and kind.”
Now Acorns is an important part of the family.
“Acorns has helped me in all aspects; emotionally, physically and mentally. They got involved when I was at my absolute lowest and was physically and mentally exhausted. They just scooped me up and helped get me back on the straight and narrow. They are brilliant,” she added.
While the future for Alex is uncertain, Sam is determined to ‘make the most of every single day’; and with the help of Acorns, they’ll do just that.
It costs over £35,000 each day to provide Acorns lifeline care and support for families. With your help, we can make sure families caring for a child with a life limiting or life threatening condition never face their journey alone.
‘Make your extra day count and help us ensure lifeline care for local families never stops!’ – That’s the passionate plea from Acorns Children’s Hospice this Leap Year.
The charity is calling on the public to help it fund an additional day of care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions this February 29.
It costs around £30,000 a day to run Acorns three hospices and provide its vital care and support. To help cover the cost of providing its services this Leap Day, the charity has launched a special appeal.
There are many ways you can support Acorns in the countdown to Leap Day, from running for Acorns at Birmingham Running Festival and making a direct donation, to creating your own fundraiser or supporting Acorns at work.
Acorns Chief Executive Trevor Johnson said: “Our children’s hospice care never takes a day off. The reassurance that we are here for children and families whenever they need us provides genuine comfort. Leap Years are no different.
“For Acorns, this means we must raise an additional day’s funding to deliver our specialist care and support. We only can be there for families with the help of our local communities. So, please, make your extra day count this Leap Year, you’ll be helping us make sure our lifeline care never stops.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions and support for their families.
In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 750 children across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, and almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.
Acorns needs around £30,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the local community.
Help us be stronger together on the extra day and all year round by making a donation to Acorns.