Redditch youngster tackles MPs over importance of Acorns (From Redditch Advertiser)

Redditch youngster tackles MPs over importance of Acorns

4:00pm Thursday 22nd November 2012 in Local

A REDDITCH schoolboy has been to London to lobby senior politicians over the importance of Acorns Children’s Hospice.

16-year-old Harry Bishop raised £900 for the charity, with a concert, after his friend’s cousin received end of life care at its centre in Worcester.

He was invited to meet with several members of the shadow cabinet in London as part of his involvement with provision of local young people’s services in Worcestershire.

Carole Crowe, Acorns’ community fundraising manager, said: “Harry is a good ambassador for Acorns Children's Hospice. He wasn’t frightened to go the council and ask for help, with the concert, to start his fundraising.

“Despite all his schoolwork and preparing for GCSEs he has managed to help a lot of life-limited children, also by raising awareness of the vital need to support Acorns’ services, provided free to families, as it costs £750 a day per child to care for Acorns’ children, mostly from fundraising.

“I was impressed that Harry managed to organise such a large and successful event at such a young age, and by his energy and enthusiasm for helping local life limited children. This experience has dramatically shaped the person he is, and his confidence has grown. It was great that the shadow ministers encouraged him and supported him in his call for funding.”

Harry spoke with former shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, and Liz Kendall, shadow care secretary, quizzing them over funding for children’s hospices.