alex jennings
alex jennings's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for Acorns Children's Hospice Trust
Story
Acorns
Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust is a registered charity, established in 1983, offering a network of care to life-limited children and support for their families across the heart of England.
Acorns has three hospices, situated in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester and a Community Team that offers practical and emotional support to families in their homes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Jack bailey 78 braved cancer to cycle across Britain. "No one should have to see their child die. My inner voice told me its all about the people who respond to the childrens needs, which is like a voice in the wilderness. If we dont answer it, who will?" He presented Acorns with more than £1,500. Sadly, Jack died on 1st July 2008.
We need more Jack Bailey's in the world and that's why I am running for the Acorns Charirty.
| Acorns fact file | ||
| Acorns has helped well over 1200 families in the last 18 years. We care for children who are life-limited – that is unlikely to reach adulthood – and offer support to their families. The Acorns service is available to young people meeting our criteria and living in a defined catchment area which covers the counties of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and the West Midlands as well as parts of Staffordshire and Shropshire. At the moment about 600 families in our defined area receive Acorns’ services. We offer respite, emergency and end-of-life care at our hospices and round the clock support at home through our community team. An estimated 1600 families in our catchment area meet our criteria. On average, every week one of the children we care for will die. There are now 43 members of the national Association of Children’s Hospices – of this, six services are still in the project stage. Acorns Selly Oak was the third in the world when it was opened in 1988. We opened our second hospice, Acorns Walsall, in 1999 and our third 10-bedded unit in Worcester, in March 2005. It currently costs more than £6 million a year to support our families. There is no charge to families. Acorns relies on the community to fund the majority of its activities. Only around 10% comes from statutory funding. The rest comes from individuals, groups of supporters, charity shop sales, trusts and companies. Acorns also participates in two lotteries; TLC in Birmingham and the South Worcestershire Hospices Lottery in Worcester. Acorns has around 1000 volunteers and 250 paid staff. Volunteers work in all areas - in the hospice, with families in the community, in fundraising, in our commercial offices and particularly in our shops. Acorns has the largest retail chain amongst children’s hospices with 38 shops. Acorns Walsall and Acorns Worcester have specialist adolescent facilities – Acorns Walsall was the first in the country to introduce these. It costs £4,500 per day to run each of the hospices; a daily bed cost of £450. This compares very favourably with other children’s hospices. http://www.acorns.org.uk/About_Acorns.asp Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Acorns Children's Hospice Trust gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation. | ||