Michelin-trained chef and TikTok star, Poppy O’Toole, author of four cookery books, the latest of which is due to be published this year, said: “Come on everybody, join me in signing this petition to save the grant and protect the amazing Acorns Children’s Hospice.

“It’s a wonderful organisation that helps children and their families and brings a lot of happiness and joy even when things are tough. They need you and me and everyone to sign their petition so that they can carry on doing their incredible work”.

The future of the Children’s Hospice Grant, a central NHS England funding stream is uncertain, meaning Acorns and many children’s hospices nationally, may be forced to cut vital services for life limited children and their families.

To raise awareness of the campaign, staff and volunteers from Acorns have been taking giant orange “HELP!” letters on tour around well-known West Midlands landmarks and asking the public to add their name to the petition.

Trevor Johnson, Acorns Chief Executive, said: “We are overwhelmed by the support we’ve received so far for this important campaign and I’m delighted that Adrian, Dame Julie, Aktar, Poppy and so many others have understood the urgency of the situation and given their backing.

“This support will help raise awareness of the hundreds of local children with serious and life limiting conditions who rely on Acorns, and who without this Grant risk losing the care they desperately need.

“I appeal to everyone: keep signing and sharing our petition. Every voice counts, and together we can ensure that Acorns and every organisation like ours can continue to offer vital care to those who need it most.”

Dame Julie has supported Acorns in the past and in 2019, when the charity’s Walsall hospice was under threat of closure, helped rally the community. The appeal won huge support and the Walsall hospice continues to support hundreds of families in the Black Country today.

The Children’s Hospice Grant is a national £25 million NHS grant, distributed to children’s hospices across England. It makes up around 13% of Acorns income, a total of £2 million.

For Acorns to continue, the vast majority of the remaining income the charity needs comes from fundraising and profits from charity shops.

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.

To find out more about Children’s Care Matters and get involved, visit: www.acorns.org.uk/campaign

Benjamin Zephaniah, who sadly passed away on 7 December, will be remembered for being many things – a trailblazing poet, writer, musician, activist and of course, a proud Brummie. He was thought of so fondly by so many.

At Acorns, one of the things we will remember most dearly is the amount of pure joy he brought to children and families. His visits to our hospices over many years were always filled with smiles and laughter.

During an especially memorable Christmas visit to our Black Country hospice in 2019 he delighted children and families with poems, songs and stories. It was a wonderful to see faces light-up in his presence. Benjamin wrote warmly about the visit in an article for the Guardian.

It was at this visit that Benjamin formed a close bond with Acorns Ambassador, Assya Shabir. The friendship continued and the following year the pair were recorded in conversation for a feature aired on BBC Radio 4.

In 2021, Benjamin accepted our invitation to become a Patron and in 2022 he joined forces with fellow Acorns Patron Steven Knight for a Peaky Blinders themed charity event at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Benjamin was someone who understood deeply our ethos. He understood that at Acorns, not only do families have all their clinical and emotional needs met, but it’s a place where they can create precious, lasting memories – in a world where the future can seem so uncertain.

In his own words, Benjamin said of Acorns: “I am so inspired by the kids, and I also have an enormous amount of respect for the people who work there. I want to hug and kiss them, I want to tell them how much I love them, but I just shake their hands and act normal.

“Not only do they care for these kids, some of whom are not expected to reach adulthood; they also look after their mums, dads, brothers and sisters, even grandparents. The existence of children’s hospices is something many of us feel uncomfortable with – most people tend to associate hospices with older people. I was one of them, until I first visited.

“Those working and volunteering there do everything they can to make special memories for the children and their families. I have rarely been to a place where love, happiness and joy were so abundant. I have never felt a hint of doom or gloom.”

Benjamin had the ability to connect with everyone he met. He had a sincere heart for the vulnerable and saw all others as equals; precious and loved, regardless of ability or social status. This was one of his greatest gifts, and something all of us at Acorns will remember, long into the future.

A big thank you to everyone who supported the event

The top auction prize was a private chef experience for six people with Dan Lee, who won the 2021 season of BBC TV’s Masterchef: The Professionals. Other auction and raffle prizes included a night at The Grand Hotel, a premium stay at Radisson Blue, and a host of dining and drink vouchers, from venues such as Couch, Eat Vietnam, Aluna, Zen Metro, The Wilderness and Alberts Schloss.

It took place at University College Birmingham (UCB) which also added a top-up donation of more than £4,000 to take the final amount to £15,000.

A top-class menu featured Dan’s TV winning dish of Hainanese chicken with chilli sambal. The food was cooked by new culinary students of UCB who received a standing ovation at the end of the evening.

Abi Coulson, Senior Partnerships Fundraising Manager for Acorns, said: “It was an incredible evening and thank you so much to everyone who gave so generously and helped make this event a huge success.

“It’s a wonderful example of what can be achieved when the community comes together to be stronger for local children and families. The money raised will make sure families facing unimaginable journeys will never go through them alone.”

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for 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 700 children across the Birmingham and wider West Midlands, and almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.

Acorns needs around £27,000 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. Find out how you can help Acorns be stronger together for local children and families by visiting our Stronger Together campaign.

A long and lasting relationship with Acorns

He added: “It really is a charity that’s close to my heart and I learned of the amazing things it does in caring for life limited children and their families across the region. I would like this to be the start of a long and lasting relationship with the charity.”

Dan, along with employees, volunteers and sponsors, officially opened the new kitchen which was fully refitted thanks to local businesses who kindly donated their time, labour, fixtures and fittings for the project.

Dayrooms Kitchens, of Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, provided all labour and materials to refit the kitchen, while Mr U-PVC, based in Wolverhampton, provided new windows. Bion Electrical, also in Wolverhampton, carried out all the electrical work needed.

Nurse Rachel Price, at Acorns in Birmingham, said: “It was so exciting to have celebrity chef Dan in our kitchen to officially open this special space. Our kitchen and dining area means so much to us and our children and families – bringing so many people together to enjoy food, conversation and feel part of one big family.

“Dan served up such a treat and our kitchen team were thrilled to have him cooking alongside them. Huge thanks to Dan, Dayrooms and everyone who gave their time, hard work and commitment to make today possible. Together, we are stronger for local children and families.”

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for 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 700 children across the Black Country and wider West Midlands, and almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.

Acorns needs around £27,000 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.