DAME Julie Walters and Adrian Lester – two of the region’s biggest names in acting – have joined the 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 £2million funding stream for Acorns, which the charity needs to continue caring for hundreds of children and their families.
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 delivered a batch of signatures to Downing Street this week alongside 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 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 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.
He said: ”How are we supposed to look after our hopes for the future if we don’t take care of our vulnerable children. The essential work Acorns Children’s Hospice does, must continue. It is a tragedy that organisations like these are starved of funding.”
Chef Aktar Islam said: “I’m well aware of the amazing work Acorns does across the region in the lives of local families.
“The skill, expertise and compassion shown at their three hospices is irreplaceable and the fact they could be faced with turning children away due to lack of funding just doesn’t bear thinking about.
“I’d urge everyone to support this campaign, sign the petition and help safeguard this vital local charity, before it’s too late.”
Michelin-trained chef and TikTok star, Poppy O’Toole, author of four cookery books, said: “It’s a wonderful organisation that helps children and their families and brings a lot of happiness and joy even when things are tough. They need you and me and everyone to sign their petition so that they can carry on doing their incredible work”.
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.
To find out more about Children’s Care Matters and get involved, click here.
