2018 has been an incredible year for Acorns. When we started to plan how best to celebrate our 30th anniversary year, there was only one place we could start.
The unique bond between parents and their children has always been the axis around which this charity revolves – so we decided to ‘shoot for the moon’ and invite HRH the Duke of Cambridge to visit the hospice opened by his mother in 1988.
We were surprised, over-joyed and moved in equal measure when he accepted our invitation and when he visited on September 18, it felt like all our Christmases had come at once.
We’ve also welcomed back many of the individuals whose vision, dedicated work and philanthropy has made us the charity we are today and, thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding, we are recording their stories to preserve the inspiring story that saw Acorns become the UK’s largest children’s hospice charity.
I can’t thank our staff, volunteers and supporters, past and present, enough for the role they play in allowing us to provide the care we do. We won’t be resting on the laurels of this special year for even one day into 2019.
The need for Acorns services grows every year – we have an important partnership with the NHS, but 65 per cent of the care we provide is funded by donations to the charity and our shops.
On behalf of everyone here, the warmest of wishes for Christmas, and all the very best for the New Year to come. Thank you for being part of our Acorns family.
Toby Porter
Chief Executive, Acorns Children’s Hospice
