Acorns Children's Hospice's £750,000 refurbishment backed by planning chiefs

The hospice, which faced the threat of closure just over a year ago, has been granted planning permission from Walsall Council for a much-needed refurbishment.

Acorns has also named specialists Murray & Willis Ltd as the contractor to carry out the works.

The work at Acorns will see the 10 children’s bedrooms upgraded and a new purpose-built arts and crafts room.

It will also see the hospice become the first Acorns hospice to have piped oxygen and suction devices built into the rooms.

This project represents a huge turnaround for Acorns as, in 2019, the hospice faced the bleak prospect of closure due to financial problems.

Its long-term future was secured last year thanks to a huge fund-raising effort from the community.

Due in part to past financial constraints, this will be the first-time major refurbishments will have taken place at the hospice since it opened over 20 years ago.

In the first two months of the launch of an appeal to raise £750,000 for the works, more than £100,000 was collected.

The hospice will be closed for six months while work is taking place, with some services being provided by St Giles Hospice in Lichfield.

Toby Porter, chief executive at Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “We’re thrilled to have obtained planning permission for this much-needed refurbishment of Acorns Children’s Hospice in the Black Country and are extremely grateful to planners at Walsall Council for giving this joyful project the green light.

“It’s always been our dream to modernise the spaces at the hospice where hundreds of local children spend precious time and this marks a significant step forward for this transformational project.”

He added: “We are thrilled to have awarded the contract of our refurbishment to Murray and Willis.

“They are a company we know are ideally suited to this project, having had extensive experience with several hospice organisations similar to ours.

“Our team were consistently impressed with the knowledge and sensitivity Murray and Willis demonstrated during the tender process about the Acorns care service, and how important the Black Country hospice is to the children and families that use it, and to the local community that have so generously supported us.

“We are excited to be embarking on that journey with Murray and Willis over the coming months.”

To find out more about the Acorns Room to Grow Appeal and how to support it, visit acorns.org.uk/roomtogrowappeal