Acting royalty and celebrity chefs join forces in support of hospice campaign
Two of the region’s biggest names in acting, Adrian Lester and Dame Julie Walters are leading a growing list of names in support of an urgent campaign from Acorns Children’s Hospice.
The campaign, Children’s Care Matters, is calling on the Government to safeguard the Children’s Hospice Grant – a vital £2 million funding stream for Acorns, which the charity needs to continue providing its care to hundreds of local children.
Public support for the campaign has been increasing, with a petition to save the Grant reaching more than 8,000 signatures in just four weeks.
Acorns will be delivering a batch of signatures to 10 Downing Street today, with a letter to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting.
Birmingham born Adrian Lester and Dame Julie have joined a number of leading names, including multiple award-winning restaurateur Aktar Islam and TikTok star, Poppy O’Toole aka Poppy Cooks, calling on the public to keep signing the petition.
Aktar and Poppy gave their active support to the campaign at a petition gathering event on 29 August in Paradise Square, Birmingham alongside giant orange HELP letters.
Dame Julie, said: “For families going through the most difficult times, the care and emotional support provided by nurses and staff at Acorns is crucial.
“It makes all the difference in the world, allowing families to focus on cherishing moments of joy and love knowing they are in safe hands.
“All children’s hospices are under threat from the loss of the Children’s Hospice Grant, so I hope everyone signs the petition to help protect these wonderful places.”
Award-winning actor and director, Adrian Lester CBE is a staunch advocate for his home city of Birmingham. Known by TV audiences for his role as Mickey Bricks in the long-running BBC drama Hustle and range of roles in both Hollywood and on stage.
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.
The Children’s Hospice Grant is a national £25 million NHS grant, distributed to children’s hospices across England. It makes up around 13 per cent 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 are provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.
