Acorns announces ambitious plans to expand (From Redditch Advertiser)

Acorns announces ambitious plans to expand

10:30am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

ACORNS Children’s Hospice has announced ambitious plans to expand.

The charity, based in Wythall and which provides care to local life limited children and their families, has vowed to help even more youngsters.

It is estimated that there are more than 2,000 children and young people in the region with life threatening conditions.

Acorns currently supports 640 of these children and almost 900 families.

The plan is to increase the numbers that may use Acorns’ services by 50 per cent to 960 and 1,290 respectively by 2018.

David Strudley, chief executive of Acorns, said: “We appreciate the plan for the next five years is very ambitious, particularly in the current economic climate, but the purpose of Acorns is to help these children and families who cannot afford to wait.

“Their time is now and we must do all we can to meet their needs with a degree of urgency that reflects the huge challenges they face.”

The plans will mean an increase in annual care costs of about £4.2m by the end of the five years.

This will require an increase in overall income of almost 50 per cent by 2018 to meet costs.

Mr Strudley said that the charity will generate this increase through a variety of income streams such as expanding in-house respite and emergency services and seeking relationships with organisations that provide similar services.

He added: “We intend to care for and support this increased number of children and families through a combination of activities and services.

“We look forward to the challenge ahead and hope that others will find a way to support us in our work.”

For information on the charity, visit acorns.org.uk.