Acorns Children’s Hospice is set to welcome supporters back to its shops next week as a select number of stores reopen to the public from Thursday 18 June.
The charity made the decision to close its network of retail shops in March in line with Government advice to limit the spread of Covid-19.
But, after weeks of careful planning, 22 Acorns shops across the region will reopen as part of a phased return.
Measures have been put in place to help shoppers follow social distancing guidelines and to provide a safe experience for everyone.
Gary Pettit, Head of Retail at Acorns, said: “We’re really looking forward to reopening our shops on Tuesday and welcoming our customers back. The safety of our customers, staff and volunteers is our top priority so there will be some changes.
“We’ve introduced a number of safety measures, including social distancing, protective equipment for staff and volunteers and we will be limiting the number of people permitted into each shop at any one time. We want everyone to return to our shops with confidence, so thank you for your patience.”
Shops reopening across the West Midlands include: Alcester, Bilston, Barnards Green, Blackheath, Bloxwich, Castle Bromwich, Chelmsley Wood, Droitwich, Dudley, Halesowen, Lichfield, Kings Heath, Knowle, Pershore, Perton, Scott Arms, Shirley, St Peters, Southam, Upton and Weoley Castle.
They will be open from Monday to Saturday with the reduced opening hours 10am to 4pm.
The charity is also appealing for more people to join its inspirational team of volunteers to help staff its shops.
Gary added: “The support of our volunteers is just as important as our customers in helping us continue our work caring for children and families.
“We rely on people generously donating their time to help staff our shops and with many of our volunteers being among the vulnerable isolating at home, we are appealing for more people to join Team Acorns. So, please get in touch.”
Acorns charity shops provide a crucial source of income for the charity, helping it fund its vital care for children with life limiting and life threatening conditions.
Amid the current challenges facing the nation, Acorns is continuing to provide emergency and end of life hospice care as well as emotional and practical support to hundreds of families who are in strict isolation at home.
In March, the charity published its emergency response for Covid-19, prioritising care for the most vulnerable children and their families and setting aside its hospice in the Black Country for children from local hospitals with complex care needs to help acute trusts maximise their intensive care capability.
As well as this, the charity temporarily closed its hospice in Birmingham and offered the facility for use in the emergency response.
Acorns needs the support of the community and local businesses as much as ever as it continues to care for some of the region’s most vulnerable families and support the NHS.
For more details on how to locate your nearest shop or how to become a volunteer, please visit www.acorns.org.uk/shops
Find your nearest shop
Acorns has over 50 retail shops across the West Midlands. Use our shop locator to find your nearest shop.
ENDS
For more information or for interview, photograph or filming opportunities, contact the PR and Communications team:
David Chamberlain: 01564 825020 / 07817 612422 / david.chamberlain@acorns.org.uk
Nicki Robinson: 01564 825062 / 07814 302153 / nicki.robinson@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.
- It costs £27,000 every day to run Acorns services providing care for children and support for their families. The charity relies heavily on donations to fund the majority of its activities.
- To find out more about Acorns, please visit www.acorns.org.uk
- To find out how Acorns has responded to the current coronavirus pandemic, please visit acorns.org.uk/coronavirus
