Council's funding call for Acorn's children’s hospice
Council chiefs in Walsall are challenging their counterparts to match their funding to help safeguard a hospice under threat of closure.
Acorns Children’s Hospice in Walsall faced the threat of closure due to financial pressures created by a drop in donations and a rise in operating costs.
It was given a ‘stay of execution’ until March 2020 due to a commitment of around £468,000 from NHS clinical commissioning groups, which was also backed up by £100,000 from Walsall Council.
A fundraising campaign was launched in July to raise £2 million to safeguard the facility’s long term future.
How you can donate:
Text ACORNS5 to 70025 to donate £5*
Text ACORNS10 to 70025 to donate £10*
Visit acorns.org.uk/appeal
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’ plight is set to be debated at a full Walsall Council meeting on September 16 and Tim Wilson, portfolio holder for children’s services, said match-funding from other authorities that use the facility would provide a massive boost to its long-term future.
He said: “The stay of execution for Acorns has been given and in terms of the financial commitment, the CCG have committed £468,000 with £100,000 from the council.
“This will be debated at full council. We’re going to call on all the local authorities who use Acorns – although its in Walsall it a Black Country facility – to match our funding.
“The CCG and I have had many meetings to get a deal together to give them a stay of execution.
“So we’ve played our part to allow that stay of execution and it’s important that we call on other local authorities – because there are a lot of them that use the facility for their residents – match our funding.
“To a local authority, £100,000 isn’t a huge amount of money but it’s incredibly important to Acorns to give it the time.
“Obviously, we have to balance books but more important than the money is the effect Acorns has on the children and their families. I’ve visited many times, the facilities are amazing and I know the difference it makes.”
