Acorns is committed to provide the very highest standards of care and support to hundreds of children and families from our region. Locally in Solihull, over the last year, Acorns has cared for 26 children and 28 families, including those who are bereaved. It has also supported 58 family members and provided 81 short breaks for children.
Whilst Acorns is funded by the generosity of donations and through fundraising activities, it also benefits significantly from Government grants. These include the Children’s Hospice Grant. However, the future of this grant has now become uncertain under the current Government.
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP said:
Firstly I’d like to thank Trevor and the team at Acorns for the incredible work they do with children’s palliative care. The Children’s Hospice Grant from the Government is a vital source of income and, without this grant, there is a real risk, for the first time in their 36-year history, that it may need to reduce its services.
The Children’s Hospice Grant provides 13% of the annual income for Acorns, which equates to over £2,000,000. This is critically important funding for Acorns, to cover the cost of owning its three hospices, their essential maintenance, the medical equipment needed, overheads, and the ongoing training and development of the care teams. The grant is distributed via the regional Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and is confirmed until April 2025.
The situation Acorns now find themselves in is alarming. Therefore, I am launching a campaign with regional colleagues asking the Government to ensure the Children’s Hospice Grant is protected for the long-term, in order that hospices such as Acorns can continue to provide their brilliant support and care to children and their families.
