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  

www.acorns.org.uk/campaign 

The Chairman of Acorns Children’s Hospice, Mark Hopton has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours, announced on Saturday (15th June), in recognition of his services to education, healthcare and charities in the West Midlands.

Mark, who has been Chairman of Acorns since 2017, dedicated his award to the charity which provides specialist palliative care to hundreds of life limited and life threatened children and support for their families across the region.

He said: “To receive an MBE is a great honour and I’m deeply humbled to be recognised in this way. This award is testament to the vital work of Acorns and organisations like it across the children’s hospice sector who work with countless children and their families, every single day.

“It’s a profound privilege to be involved in a charity like Acorns, an organisation with the most dedicated staff and volunteers imaginable, and whose high level of expertise and compassion makes our care possible.

“Most importantly, this award bears testament to the children and families we are here to serve, whose courage and strength inspires us every day to continue in our mission.”

Prior to Acorns, Mark enjoyed a diverse and rewarding career with the global business advisory firm KPMG and has also held roles as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Governors at Birmingham City University and Chairman of Governors at Solihull School.

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 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.”

Four major palliative care charities gave oral evidence today at a Health and Social Care Committee meeting on hospice funding, describing the current funding model as ‘unsustainable’, risking hospice closures.

At the meeting, MPs considered whether funding for hospices is sufficient to meet demand and followed the committee’s major report on assisted dying, which urged the government to commit to additional funding, guaranteeing support for hospices in need.

Giving evidence was Toby Porter, CEO at Hospice UK, Ruth Driscoll, Director for Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, Dr Syed Qama Abbas, Medical Director at St Clare’s Hospice and James Cooper, Head of External Affairs at Together for Short Lives.

Watch the full session here.

Hospices are overly reliant on income from charity fundraising due to a lack of Government funding, MPs have warned, in a Backbench Business Committee debate today.

Members on both sides of the House discussed a lack of government funding for hospices in their constituencies that left many with rising budget deficits and created a “postcode lottery” for palliative care.

Opening the debate, Conservative MP Sally-Ann Hart said the current funding model that is reliant on fundraising is “uncertain and unsustainable” for hospices.

Ms Hart said hospices are “heavily dependent on the generosity of local individuals, companies, groups and trusts – this funding model is uncertain and unsustainable, and places hospices under considerable strain”.

The MP for Hastings and Rye added: “We should all want to see the best support available for those people that are nearing the end of their lives, as well as their families. And excellent palliative care, support for people mentally, physically and spiritually is vital.”

Ms Hart further stated: “The future of end of life care is uncertain, as increasing costs and demands are putting huge demands on hospices and care providers.”

It costs Acorns around £11 million every year to continue and the charity is heavily reliant on fundraising to continue. Two thirds of the income needed to provide its specialist palliative care in the West Midlands and Gloucestershire comes from people donating, fundraising from the community and events, and profits from charity shops.

Catch up on the full debate here.

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 CEO, Trevor Johnson has warned of funding challenges in a series of interviews with the media today. The interviews followed a Hospice UK report which revealed the sector is facing a collective £77 million deficit.

Trevor said: “Acorns provides vital care to hundreds of children across the region every year, and the demand for our services is growing. Help can’t wait for the families who desperately need Acorns, but limited funding and rising costs present a huge challenge to our ability to continue to be there when families need us.

“As a charity, we can’t pass rising costs on to the consumer and depend on generous people taking part in fundraising activities and the profits from our charity shops for the bulk of our income.

“Hospices like Acorns are essential, but the situation for us is not sustainable. We support Hospice UK in calling on the Government to introduce a new model of long term funding for hospices, in recognition of the invaluable services they provide, and the essential part they play within the healthcare system, before it’s too late.”

Read a BBC news article on the report here.