This was the magical spine-tingling moment when around 60 singers took shoppers by surprise as they suddenly burst into song in a giant flash mob at the official opening of Acorns new charity superstore in Tewkesbury.

The singers, who pretended to be ordinary customers, were captured on video as they flooded the aisles and hit an emotional high note at the launch of the brand-new Acorns Children’s Hospice store on High Street.

The i-Sing choir, which has clocked up millions of hits online with viral videos, targeted the shop which sells everything from fashion to toys and to furniture and homeware to raise money for the vital care of children with life limiting and limiting conditions and support for their families.

Shoppers were startled when they started singing Shine by Emeli Sandé.

Acorns Children’s Hospice opened the shop today (Friday 24 May) in the former M&Co retail unit. The shop boasts top-quality pre-loved items for all the family at fantastic prices.

Gary Pettit, Director of Retail at Acorns, said: “This was a truly magical moment as the sounds of the choir rang out to ‘Shine’ a light on the vital care we provide for life-limited and life-threatened children.

“Our shops play an important role in raising funds towards this care, and is one of almost 50 shops in operation.”

He added: “This is our first ever shop in Tewkesbury and shoppers will find our complete range of pre-loved items, plus more bargains than before all under one roof.”

Acorns Tewkesbury superstore in located in the middle of the town centre and is home to top-quality fashion, shoes, accessories, toys, books, homeware and furniture.

The store was officially opened by Tewkesbury Mayor Paul Jones and his Consort Idessa Tustin.

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.

Help can’t wait. Donate to Acorns today by visiting www.acorns.org.uk/donate

For the first time ever Acorns Children’s Hospice joined one of the biggest and most important LGBTQ+ festivals in the UK – and it was a spectacular success.

It was a beautiful, sunny day as thousands of people lined the streets of Birmingham city centre to watch the colourful Pride parade.

Applause and cheers rang out for Acorns from the crowds, as colleagues and volunteers waved flags and blew whistles to raise awareness of the charity’s vital care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions.

Colleagues shone as they wore rainbow colours, glitter, garlands and specially made t-shirts and proudly carried a large Acorns banner.

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.

Help can’t wait. Donate to Acorns today by visiting www.acorns.org.uk/donate

An emotional one-minute applause was held at Walsall FC’s final game of the season on Saturday in honour of an eight-year-old Saddlers fan who died following a brave two-year battle against cancer.

‘Inspirational’ Verity Sheldon died at Acorns Children’s Hospice in the Black Country on Friday, 19 April.

Walsall FC boss Mat Sadler visited Verity’s bedside at the charity’s Walsall hospice two days before her passing and spoke publicly afterwards of the heartbreak the family was experiencing, describing them as ‘one of the family’.

Verity’s dad Nick and mum Marie this week thanked Walsall FC and fellow Saddlers fans for their support and paid tribute to his beloved daughter who was so ‘full of joy’.

They also thanked Mat for visiting her at the hospice, which provides vital care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions.

Nick and Marie said: “Verity was an amazing little girl – so kind, brave, happy, tenacious, determined, strong, fearless, inspirational, tough, selfless, considerate, funny, and always thought of others first.

“Verity loved football. She loved sitting on the tier above the goal. Every time she went, she wanted to have chips; she always had chips every time we went.”

Nick explained how it was back in 2022, at the end of the summer school holidays, when he and Verity’s mum Marie noticed her hands were shaking as she was having a drink.

“She was having a drink of milk, and her hands were shaking,” he said. “A doctor told us to take her straight to hospital. On the first day she should have gone back to school, she was having a brain scan.

‘We knew she would be comfortable at Acorns’

“They called me and her mum in and told us that Verity had a tumour at the back of her brain. They operated and removed the tumour, and she had 30 sessions of radiotherapy, along with chemotherapy.”

Money was raised to help give Verity, from Walsall, a magical trip to Disneyland but in June 2023 a second tumour was discovered. Despite more sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, further small tumours appeared.

But it was earlier this month (April) that Verity woke up from a nap and couldn’t remember who her mum and dad were. After being rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and further scans, the family was told nothing more could be done.

“It was then we said, if she makes it through the night, we will take her to Acorns. We knew she would be comfortable there,” Nick said. “I’d driven past it hundreds of times, but it was hidden away and didn’t even know it was there. But I knew about Acorns and have seen them fundraising at Walsall FC.”

An un-bear-lievable donation of nearly 40 rare teddy bears has raised more than £1,600 for Acorns Children’s Hospice after going under the hammer at auction.

The cuddly collection of Charlie Bears was sold after a flurry of bids and the money raised be used for the care of children with life limiting and life threatening conditions and support for their families.

The furry friends, which are made in the UK and collected by avid fans across the world, were sold by Lichfield-based Richard Winterton Auctioneers with some individual bears selling over estimate and fetching up to £70 each.

Vicki Behan, Supporter Services Manager for Acorns, said: “This was a grrr-eat collection of unique and loveable teddy bears which were put up for auction by a generous local collector to help raise funds for our lifeline care of local children and their families.

“We are very grateful to her and to Richard Winterton Auctioneers for generating as much money as possible for this highly sought-after cute collection.

‘Fur-ever homes’ as bears collected over several years

“We hope the bears have gone to their fur-ever homes and to kind new owners whose interest means we can continue to be there for children and families when they need us the most.”

Charlie Bear panda ‘Monium’ and ‘Alicia’ were two of the stars in the collection, along with the exclusively designed ‘Squizzle’ and ‘Smidgen’. Winterton’s waived all fees for the sale.

The bears’ former owner, who did not wish to be named, said she had collected the teddies over several years and added that each bear was special in its own way, and she was ‘very pleased’ with the amount raised for the charity.

A touching tribute to the founding CEO of Acorns Children’s Hospice was unveiled this week – as the charity officially opened vital new family rooms so parents can stay by their children’s side 24-hours a day.

The family care suite has cost nearly £400,000 and has taken six months to complete and it has now been named the John Overton Suite.

A special plaque was unveiled in Mr Overton’s honour as a long-lasting tribute to the man who was the driving force in setting up Acorns first hospice in Birmingham to provide care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions in the region.

Mr Overton later opened hospices in Walsall and Worcester. He has been described as a businessman with a big heart and who left a huge legacy.

The plaque was unveiled on Wednesday (17 April) by his widow Margaret Overton, and she recalled how her husband dedicated his life to making the hospice a reality and a success.

‘He would be honoured to be remembered in this way’

She said: “We are humbled and honoured. John would be thrilled to know that Acorns is going from strength to strength and local children are getting the care they need. It’s great to represent John on his behalf for the opening of this family care suite and this is a wonderful tribute.

“Acorns was a huge part of John’s life. He believed the whole team, from volunteers right to the top, had one mission to provide lifeline care for children and support for their families and that everyone had a role to play.”

Margaret added: “The word ‘family’ was synonymous with John. In his personal and professional life he lived the word ‘family’, and he would be honoured to be remembered in this way with the family care suite.”

Acorns logo made a welcome return to Villa shirts for the Club’s Europa Conference League clash against Ajax.

The Villans took on the Dutch side at their home in Amsterdam, with the game ending in a 0-0 draw.

The club’s main shirt sponsor gambling firm BK8 could not be featured on their shirts for the match due to Dutch advertising regulations.

So, in an incredible gesture of support, Aston Villa instead featured Acorns logo on their shirts, shining a spotlight on vital care for local children and families on a platform watched by millions across Europe.

Aston Villa’s iconic decision to feature the logo on their shirts from 2008-10 was groundbreaking and demonstrates the long and proud history the charity shares with the club.

A state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool featuring multi-sensory light and sound for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions which was officially opened this week is already a splash hit.

The project at Acorns Children’s Hospice for the Three Counties has seen colleagues dive into months of work and the complete renovation of the much-used facility after a whopping six-figure donation.

Alongside a new pool and changing rooms, a hi-tech lighting system and ambient surround sound speakers will enhance hydrotherapy sessions, which are a vital service provided by the Worcester-based hospice.

The project – costing around £200,000 – was made possible thanks to a grant from the Kildare Trust which funded the entire scheme, and it will benefit more than 200 children who receive care at the Bath Road hospice every year.

At the pool’s official opening (Tuesday, 20 January), the first family took a dip and were cheered on by representatives from the Trust, contractors and colleagues from Acorns.

Ian Smith, Chair of the Kildare Trust, said: “The trustees of Kildare were delighted to be in a position to fund the whole refurbishment of this vital facility at Acorns.

“We have supported the hospice for a number of years, but this is the biggest single project we have supported there.

“It was obvious from talking to the staff and parents how incredibly important the hydrotherapy treatment is to all of the users of Acorns.

“Most importantly, after several months of work, the children can benefit from the pool and expert staff support.”