OUTGOING Chief Executive of Acorns Children’s Hospice Toby Porter has spoken of his ‘total honour’ at leading the charity as he bows out after six years of dedicated service.
Toby, who has been CEO of Acorns since 2016, took up a role as Chief Executive of national charity Hospice UK this week, supporting the work of the country’s entire network of adult and children’s hospices.
Acorns has announced Matt Bullock as an interim CEO who will take the reins until the appointment of the charity’s permanent CEO.
Toby said: “It has been a total honour and privilege to lead Acorns and the wonderful people working and volunteering here. This charity continues to work alongside some of the most vulnerable young members of our community through some of the most challenging times we have experienced in recent memory.
“It is a charity rightly loved across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire, and as our region faces fresh challenges and a winter of uncertainty, will be there providing the vital love, care and support local families need.”
Over the past six years, the charity chief has helped steer the charity through a number of significant milestones and challenges.
A period of financial uncertainty in 2019 culminated in a successful fund-raising appeal to save the charity’s Black Country hospice.
Six months later, Acorns quickly adapted its children’s hospice service at the onset of the pandemic to ensure it remained available every day to some of the region’s most vulnerable children and families.
Matt will continue in his substantive role as Acorns director of People and Culture between Toby’s departure and the arrival of the charity’s permanent CEO.
Toby added: “Saying goodbye is so hard, but I do believe it is the right time to hand the reins to a new leader who can bring new ideas and fresh perspectives and help this vital children’s hospice service continue to flourish over the coming years.
“I would also like to thank our incredible Acorns people. Those working and volunteering with us are an extraordinary team – skilled, brave, resilient and totally committed to the children and families we serve.
“Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank the children, young people and families who circumstance has led them to use the Acorns care service. You have taught me so much, thank you.
“I feel very honoured to be asked to lead Hospice UK and I look forward to joining its highly respected team and support the hospice and end of life care sector nationally. I am delighted that I will have the opportunity to continue to support Acorns in this new national role, along with the wonderful adult hospices in our region.”
Visit www.acorns.org.uk for more.
