A striking new mural honouring the life and legacy of the late renowned poet and proud Brummie Benjamin Zephaniah was unveiled on Friday (18 July) in the gardens of Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham.

The mural, created by an anonymous artist, replaces an earlier tribute in Hockley that was mistakenly painted over. The family went on to choose the gardens of Acorns in Birmingham as the new location for the memorial, a place that held deep meaning for Benjamin who was a spirited Patron of the charity.

The unveiling brought together members of Benjamin’s family, Acorns patrons and ambassadors, and employees for a heartfelt celebration of his life and unwavering support for the charity.

Benjamin was a long-standing and devoted supporter of Acorns, giving his time to raise awareness and vital funds for its work. His dedication to the charity led him to become an official patron in 2021 – a role he embraced with genuine joy and deep pride.

Trevor Johnson, Chief Executive of Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “Benjamin Zephaniah was more than a poet – he was a powerful voice for justice, creativity and countless causes close to his heart. We were so fortunate to have him as a patron and a friend of Acorns.

“This beautiful mural is not just a tribute to his extraordinary life, but also offers a space for reflection, togetherness and connection. It’s a place where his family and the community can remember not only Benjamin, but other loved ones no longer with us.

“Benjamin believed greatly in the ethos of Acorns, not only as a place of expert clinical care, but also a place of love, dignity and cherished memory-making for children and families facing the most difficult circumstances. He once encapsulated his sentiments about Acorns in an article for The Guardian: ‘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.’

“One of Benjamin’s most memorable visits took place in December 2019, when he shared poetry and stories with families at our Black Country hospice. More than a brilliant poet, Benjamin was a magnetic speaker, whose voice and ability to connect left a lasting impression on all who met him.

“His presence and voice will always be remembered at Acorns with great affection. We are immensely proud to honour his memory with this mural.”

The atmosphere was one of celebration and remembrance on the day, with guests moved to tears during the unveiling. Words were heard from Acorns Chief Executive, Trevor Johnson, Benjamin’s brother, Tippa Naphtali, and Acorns President, Kay Alexander MBE.

Tippa Naphtali, Benjamin’s brother, said: “This project has been a real mission of passion for Benjamin’s siblings ever since the original public mural that appeared in Hockley shortly after his death was painted over by Council contractors to our utter dismay.

“Subsequently working with the Council and contractors it was agreed to reinstate the mural, but we thought that a better and more meaningful location would be at Acorns Children’s Hospice of which Benjamin was a patron for a number of years.

“We are so excited about the unveiling of this mural which will be a long term memorial to our brother, and a fitting and inspirational presence for the children and families that Acorns supports.”

After the unveiling, Benjamin’s brother, Tippa, graciously presented a painted canvas of Benjamin to the hospice, a number of which are being sold with all proceeds going directly to Acorns.

Dotted around the hospice gardens were also small plaques created by some of the children in the hospice, each displaying a verse from Benjamin’s children’s poem, ‘Nature Trail’.

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 780 children across the West Midlands, and supported over 1,000 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.

Acorns needs around £35,000 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

Acorns volunteers make a real difference to the care and support we can provide to local families, and we’re shining a light on someone who truly reflects the heart of Acorns volunteer community – Sam Claughton.

Sam has been volunteering with us at Acorns in Birmingham for over six years, but his connection to the hospice began even earlier. While attending Selly Oak Trust School, Specialist Science College for students with special educational needs, based right next door, Sam first got to know Acorns through his mum, Alex. She was volunteering with her Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog, Scamper, and Sam would often come along to visit. It didn’t take long before he was fully involved himself.

Since then, Sam has become a vital part of our volunteer team, joining the Acorns Choir, lending a hand in the gardens, and even taking on the responsibility of feeding and caring for the hospice fish tank.

Growth through volunteering

But more than anything, Sam’s time at Acorns has been a journey of growth. Volunteering has helped him build confidence, push his own boundaries and discover new strengths. From learning how to strim and mow lawns to taking on more responsibility, Sam has gained practical skills and personal pride.

“Volunteering gives me a purpose,” Sam says. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.” 

A group of people posing for a picture outside during winter

He’s not just talking about the tasks, it’s the people and the sense of community that mean so much to him. Sam describes Acorns as ‘a family away from family’ – a place where he feels accepted, supported and safe. It’s where friendships have been formed, jokes are shared, and everyone looks out for each other.

Sam is also known for bringing the average age of our volunteers down, proudly being one of the youngest in the team, though he calls himself a ‘young person with an old soul’. One of his most memorable moments was when fellow gardeners and choir members surprised him with a secret birthday party – a reflection of just how loved and valued he is.

Volunteering has given as much to Sam as he gives to us. His warmth, dedication and humour brighten our days, and his story is a reminder of how powerful community, purpose and kindness can be.

Thank you, Sam, for being such an important part of the Acorns family. You inspire us all.

Get involved in volunteering

We’re always looking for kind-hearted people to join our wonderful community of volunteers. Whether it’s cheering on our amazing supporters at events, lending a hand in one of our vibrant charity shops, or offering a warm welcome in our hospices, there are so many ways to get involved across the Midlands.

You don’t need any special experience, just kindness, enthusiasm, and a little time to spare. Every moment you give helps us provide vital care and support to local children and families.

Explore our latest volunteering opportunities today! Your time could mean the world to a family at Acorns.

Register your interest

Christmas came early last week (Thursday 19th December) as star players from Aston Villa Football Club brought festive cheer to young fans at Acorns Children’s Hospice.

A longstanding fixture of Acorns festive calendar, the annual visit by Aston Villa players is a highlight for the hospice’s children, families, and staff.

This year’s special guests included Club favourites Youri Tielemans, Kosta Nedeljkovic and John McGinn, who met adoring fans and their parents, gave out presents, signed autographs and posed for photos.

Becky Hughes, Interim Matron at Acorns in Birmingham based in Selly Oak, said: “There’s always such a buzz at the hospice when the players from Aston Villa visit. The children’s faces light up when they see their sporting heroes, and the atmosphere is truly magical.

“Christmas is a special time at Acorns, and events like these are all part of the care we provide – creating treasured memories for children and families, not just at Christmas but all year round. We are so grateful to the club for organising this visit, and to all the players for making it a day we’ll never forget!”

The children even had the exciting opportunity to challenge the players to a game of FIFA. Meanwhile, others proudly presented their best festive drawings and heartfelt Christmas cards to the players.

Becky added: “For the children we care for at Acorns, it’s about more than providing all their specialist medical needs, we are there whenever and wherever they need us.

“We’re also about making sure we help them and their families make every moment count, creating the fun, joy and laughter that all children need – and visits like this are the perfect way to do that!”

Every family deserves the chance to create unforgettable memories with their child, no matter how short their time together.

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and support that allows their families to make the most of each precious moment.

In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 780 children across the West Midlands, and supported over 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.

This vital gift of care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.

Acorns needs around £35,000 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.

Give the gift of Acorns care and support for seriously ill children and their families this Christmas. Visit www.acorns.org.uk/Christmas

Acorns Nurse Katie was among the team of ‘superheroes’ Karen and Jonathan say gave them ‘everything we needed without knowing we needed it’.

Katie shares her memories of meeting Thea and her family for the first time and how the hospice team at Acorns in the Black Country gave them the gifts of vital care, support and lifetime of memories.

I remember walking in and seeing this tiny beautiful little baby; her little features were absolutely perfect. Her family were soaking up every minute they could with her.

The gift of time

Thea’s family needed the precious gift of time. They needed time as a family of four, time to cuddle Thea, time to cry and time to laugh. Most importantly to be able to do all these things knowing they were being well cared for.

They didn’t need to fear what they may need to do or not do when by themselves at 3am. They didn’t need to think of the day-to-day mundane jobs of figuring out what to eat or when to wash clothes, because it was done for them. They knew Rupert was happy and could be watched if they needed some time alone with Thea. They just got to be parents.

The family wanted to spend time to create memories with Thea in a calm and caring place, and that’s what they got. We embraced them into the Acorns family and gave them the support they needed. They knew we were keeping a close eye on Thea and were ready to intervene to keep her as comfortable as possible.

Two women sit next to a lying baby. One woman holds a Christmas bauble with a printed baby handprint on it
Two white baubles hanging on a Christmas tree. One says Thea Evelyn and the other has a small hand print with eyes and a nose to make it look like a reindeer.

Creating memories

The most important thing we did was accept where they are at. We try our hardest to see a family’s needs and meet them there. Some families want to know we are there but need space, others want us to be involved as much as possible. Thea’s family fully embraced all we offered and from that, experienced lots of beautiful memories.

Johnny and Karen wanted as many memory making activities as we could offer. We had such a lovely time thinking of different crafts we could do. Hand and foot casts were one of the first we did. Thea had the tiniest little toes. I think I held my breath when I peeled away the casting!

We involved Rupert in some canvas painting so that he will also have something to look back on and know he was a part of.

When a family is going through end-of-life care with their child, so many moments can become a blur. There is so much to take in and try to understand, so many different emotions. But in these moments, these keepsakes, time has stood still. That handprint, footprint, photo, will always remain and bring back a memory. Keepsakes and memories like these are irreplaceable.

Read more of Thea’s story.

Support local families

Hundreds of local babies, children and young people rely on Acorns Children’s Hospice for specialist 24-hour care and support. In turn, Acorns relies on people like you to fund the majority of our services. Your support with any donation you can make is vital in helping us to continue the work that we do.

Donate now
A woman, man and young boy looking over a moses basket at a small baby.

Jabran, staff nurse at our hospice in Birmingham feels humbled to work at Acorns.

For him, being able to bring tailored care and fun to the lives of children is his favourite thing. Here is his story:

I’ve been qualified as a nurse now for 10 years which is scary to admit! I started my career working in hospitals, so I didn’t know much about the hospice scene.

Before applying to work at Acorns I did a mini tour to see what it was like. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, it was actually a really fun and warm environment, so I applied for the job and here I am!

What I really love about my role is the time I get to give to the children and their families. On my first day, I spent the whole day caring for one child who I woke in the morning, bathed, took into the sensory room and the garden, ate lunch with in the dining room, and watched TV with whilst looking after their care needs.

A nurse at Acorns, named Jabhran, calculating the right dosage of medicine needed.

Jabran preparing medicine at our Birmingham hospice.

“It wasn’t rushed, it was calm. It was completely different to the busy hospital ward. That’s what’s nice about Acorns, you really do get that one to one care in a relaxing environment.”

We have time to care and to get to know the child and their family, which means we can provide gold standard care. Every child is different, so we make sure we know everything about them by building a personal care plan.

When a family first comes to Acorns, we invite them to stay so we can learn everything we can about their child.

Obviously, we focus on the clinical needs such as medication, but we also cover things you might take for granted. For instance, what time the child goes to sleep, if they wake up in the night, what kind of things would calm them down? What are their hobbies?

We then create a personalised care plan for when they stay. By doing this we can care for them as a whole.

Everything we do is tailored because we want the best for children and families. We try to understand as best as we can, what they’re going through.

I love this job because it’s humbling to be a part of a child’s journey. That’s why I want to make it as fun and unique to them as possible.

Jabran 
Staff Nurse

For more information or for interview, photograph or filming opportunities, contact the PR and Communications team at news@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.