Express & Star

Acorns backed by slice of £25m funding boost

Acorns Hospice will receive a welcome cash boost after the Government announced it would pledge £25 million to help struggling hospices all across the UK.

Published
A major fundraising drive has been launched to safeguard Acorn's Children Hospital in Walsall

While the exact amount the Walsall hospice will receive is not yet known, they will be handed a slice of the funding to help towards their campaign to save Acorns from closure.

It is hoped the new investment will improve the quality of end of life care for around 200,000 people being cared for in hospices and help keep many of the struggling facilities open.

How you can donate:

  • Text ACORNS5 to 70025 to donate £5*

  • Text ACORNS10 to 70025 to donate £10*

  • Phone: 01564 825 037

  • *With texts you will be charged your donation, plus your standard network rate. Acorns receives at least 98 per cent of your donation as it will incur a two per cent admin charge for this service. By texting, you are agreeing for Acorns to phone or text you to tell you about our work and how you can help. If you wish to donate and not hear from Acorns again, text ACORNS5 NO to 70025. For more information call 01564 825 037. Acorns Children’s Hospice registered charity no: 700859.

Acorns chief executive Toby Porter said: “This is a welcome announcement of recognition and political support from the Government of the vital, irreplaceable services provided by children’s and adult hospices for thousands of families across the country.

“Whilst we await the detail on what this announcement means for Acorns and how the funding will be allocated – we are sure it will have a positive impact on our work across the region through all three of our hospices in the West Midlands.

“It remains as important as ever that the community continues to support our Black Country hospice appeal and to maintain the wonderful momentum we’ve seen over the past few weeks.

“We can only safeguard the long term future of our Walsall hospice with your help.”

The £25 million in 2019/20 will be funded from existing budgets and in future years will be sustained at appropriate levels through mainstream NHS funding.

Acorns was on the brink of closure earlier this summer due to funding struggles, but it was revealed a few weeks ago that it had been given a reprieve. It will now stay open until April but £2 million needs to be raised if it is to survive beyond next spring.

Local people, businesses, politicians and celebrities have rallied round the hospice – and more than £200,000 has already been donated towards the campaign.