acorns children's hospice together newsletter - winter 2012
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All the latest news and fundraising ideas from Acorns Children's HospiceTRANSCRIPT
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Issue 14 | Winter 2012
NOW is the time. Turn to page 3 for an update on our appeal.
Turn to page 2 for full contents
A family storyPage 4
Christmas
fundraising ideasPage 8
Alex's adventures Page 10
A day in the lifePage 11
NOWis the time to get involved. Turn to pages 5 & 14 to find out how you can help make every dayas special as
Christmas.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 2
0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk2
Welcome
3
4
5
6-7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16-17
18
19
We want to connect with you!Join the conversation and spread the word!
Read all the latest news, be among the first to
see photos and updates of our activities and
network with other supporters.
Find us on Facebook
/acornschildrenshospice
Join us on Twitter
@acornshospice
Welcome to our winter newsletter!
Christmas is approaching and NOW
is the time for you to join us in
helping to make it a memorable
time for local children with life
limiting or life threatening
conditions and their families,
across the heart of England.
Christmas is such a special time for everyone but it can be
difficult too, especially for families of life limited or life
threatened children. For them it is still about coping with the
everyday needs of their child and they need your help. There are
so many ways you can help Acorns this Christmas - turn to
pages 5 and 14 to find out how!
It’s been a busy summer despite the unpredictable weather, with
our supporters braving the rain to raise vital funds for our
children and families. Turn to page 6 to read about what they’ve
been up to including the team who completed the Three Peaks
Challenge to raise £1,000. Parissa Bagheri aged 17, has also been
telling us about her experience as a young volunteer in our
Acorns charity shop in Droitwich Spa. Turn to page 18 to read
about what she does to help Acorns and also about our exciting
new store which has opened in Bromsgrove.
The Acorns Triple Run was a great success with runners raising a
fantastic £30,000. Alex Acorn, face of the NOW is the time
appeal, went along to the event in Malvern where he met the
Mayor of Malvern and over 1,000 wonderful event participants.
Read more about this and more of Alex’s adventures on page 10.
Two of our stalwarts at our hospice in Selly Oak, Sue Brown and
Steph Edwards, look after cooking and housekeeping at our
hospice in Selly Oak. Read about all the great work they do here
at Acorns in ‘A day in the life’ on page 11.
Our NOW is the time campaign is going really well and we are
steadily gaining on our target to secure funding for 25,000 days
of care by our 25th anniversary in December 2013. With
Christmas fast approaching, why not join in with some
fundraising to help us reach our target. Turn to page 8 for some
seasonal fundraising ideas or go to page 5 to learn about how you
can take part in our £32 Christmas challenge to pay for an hour of
care for a local child.
NOW is the time to help Acorns make sure our
children and families have the best possible
Christmas. On behalf of all our children and their
families, a huge thank you for all your help and support.
Best wishes
David Strudley, CBE
Chief Executive
NOW is the time to help secure the future
of YOUR local children's hospice. Help
Acorns raise the money for 25,000 days of
care for life limited and life threatened
children to mark our 25th anniversary.
Turn to the relevant pages to see how YOU
can get involved.
NOW is the time - appeal update
The difference your support makes
Support Acorns this Christmas
Support from our local community
Fundraising ideas
The importance of regular giving
Alex’s adventures!
A day in the life
Support from our major partners
and local companies
Leaving a gift for the future
Support Acorns this Christmas
The difference your support makes
Acorns events
Our retail chain
Give a regular gift
NOW is the timeto get involved to support
local children.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 3
Join up with work colleagues, friends and family to help spread
some festive joy and support our children and families by
taking part in some fundraising events. Turn to page 8 to see
some of our themed fundraising ideas and get inspired this
festive season!
Alex Acorn, the face of our NOW is the time appeal, has been
very busy this summer getting involved with all the exciting
fundraising events that have been going on. Turn to page 10 to
have a look at what he has been up to! Keep an eye out for him
during autumn and winter - he's already got lots of events in his
diary!
Find out more about the NOW is the time appeal at
www.acorns.org.uk/nowisthetime
N OW is the time
Despite the unpredictable weather during the summer
season, with your help, we have managed to make good
progress with our NOW is the time appeal target. We have so
far raised enough money to fund a fantastic 8,785 days of
care out of our 25,000 days target.
As we’re fast approaching the festive season, we need your
help more than ever to reach our target and continue to
support our children and their families. Come rain, shine or
snow, we need to be there for life limited or life threatened
children and their families who rely on our care services. It’s
with the help of people just like you and others in your
community that we are able to provide this continuous
support and for that, we thank you!
NOW is the timeto get festive!It’s a busy time between now and the New
Year, with Christmas, Halloween and Bonfire
Night all providing plenty of opportunities
to get creative with fundraising. How will
you get involved in helping us reach our
target of 25,000 days of care by our 25th
anniversary in December 2013?
Text NEWS12 £3 to 70070 to donate £3 to Acorns
25,000
NOWis the time!
TARGET:
DAYS OF CARE
8,785DAYS OF CARE
YOU’VE GIVEN:
16,215DAYS OF CARE
TO GO:
Visit www.acorns.org.uk/nowisthetimefor the latest appeal news and updates.
Figures correct as at July 2012.
Thank youfor your support.Let's keep going!
NOW is the time appeal update!
3
Get involved with Acorns this ChristmasThere are many ways to get involved with Acorns
Children’s Hospice at Christmas. Whether you want to
get involved within a group or as an individual, you can.
Turn to page 5 and page 14 for more information
about our Christmas fundraising campaign. If you can't
hold a fundraising activity, but would like to make a huge
difference, then why not become an Acorns regular
giver? Turn to page 9 to find out more.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 4
0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk4
The difference your support makes
Grace's story
Nine year old Grace, her mum Helen, dad Chris, and brother
Joseph, aged seven, have benefited so much from the team
at Acorns Children's Hospice over the last three years, that
they describe Acorns as, ‘life changing for the whole family.’
Helen explains:
“Grace was born with Down’s syndrome and had fluid on her
lungs. It was then they discovered that she had patent ductus
arteriosus, involving a blood vessel that allows blood to go
around the baby's lungs before birth. A valve had failed to close
as normal after birth.
Four months later, she had a routine procedure involving
surgery – but she arrested unexpectedly. She was a different
child after the surgery, she was very stiff and didn’t know us.
Although she had Down’s syndrome before the surgery,
developmentally she was doing very well, she would play with
her activity bars, she smiled and she recognised us. All those
skills went. It took the doctors a while before they told us she
had brain damage. We were devastated.
Grace also has no mobility and her head control is not good.
She cannot sit unsupported, she has no speech, and her
development is severely delayed. She responds to her name,
and to a familiar voice, so there is a clearly a lot going on inside,
she just can’t communicate.
Grace had acute myeloid leukaemia at ten months old. She
was having chemotherapy pumped through her on her first
birthday – not quite what we were expecting. When we had
Joseph, my parents helped to look after Grace, sometimes
overnight. But because she is fed and has oxygen overnight, it
worried them.
I had always thought hospice care was for children who were
dying, but friends told me how wonderful Acorns care was for
their child, and urged me to ask for a referral from the
consultant. It has been brilliant. It’s lovely to be able to leave
Grace with people who are not ‘frightened’ of her. If her
gastrostomy tube needs changing, they deal with it. They can
cope with her; which makes us more relaxed and confident
when she is there.
Grace has overnight stays at Acorns and the facilities are
fantastic. She uses the hydrotherapy spa, enjoys playing in the
sensory room, watching the lights and bubble column, and just
chills out.
Grace attends a local school and it takes an hour each day just
to get her ready for school. She vomits a lot, and has severe
reflux, but with Acorns nurses, Grace is just a routine child. It's
lovely – it gives you peace of mind.
When Grace is at Acorns we get to do things with Joseph, like
going for a bike ride or taking him to the beach, as it’s a
nightmare with the wheelchair. Acorns respite care for Grace
means we can have a break together and spend quality time
with Joseph, without him having to fight for attention. He uses
the siblings group at Acorns and goes out to all sorts of places.
Our Acorns Community Team Worker referred us to the
Make-A-Wish Foundation and we went to Florida where Grace
swam with dolphins. This has made us realise that with the
right organisation and expertise, we can travel further afield.
We’ve even taken Grace on a Mediterranean cruise. Grace
used to be in and out of hospital, but she has been stable for
three years, which has increased our confidence about taking
her to places.
Whilst Grace requires a lot of care, she is certainly worth it! She
is a lovely little person to get to know beyond the disabilities.
Her smile has well and truly returned. She has likes (Adele is
her favourite singer) and dislikes (she’s not a rock music fan!)
just like anyone else and is not afraid to express them. She is
happy and content most of the time and grumpy some of the
time, and is very much loved by her family for who she is."
“Acorns has been a life-changing experience for us all. When
Grace is there, we know she’s having a good time, being well
looked after, and we are free from worry.”
Thank you to Helen and Chris for sharing their story
with us.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 5
Text NEWS12 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 to Acorns
Support Acorns this Christmas
5
£32 Christmas Challenge!
Your Christmas fundraising pack willinclude:
Christmas posterOn our Christmas poster is a
Christmas tree with 32 baubles that
all need to be decorated! Display
the poster where everyone can see
it and instead of Christmas cards,
simply ask colleagues and friends to
write a Christmas message on the
baubles in return for a donation to
Acorns in the money box provided.
We suggest everyone who participates donates £1 each (or
more if you can!). By doing this you can easily raise £32 or more
from just one poster. Please request additional posters and
money boxes if you fill up the spaces quickly! (Contact details
to the left).
Acorns money boxThe money box is for you to collect as
much money as you can from your
Christmas messages on the
poster (above). You could ask
visitors, customers or suppliers
to donate too or add your
change after buying your
favourite coffee! You can also ask your
employer to match what you have raised pound for pound.
Have some fun this Christmas and raise £32 to pay for an hour of care for a local child.
This Christmas you can make a difference at work, school or
college, in your community group or place of worship. By
supporting our NOW is the time appeal, you can help to raise
the money for 25,000 days of care to mark our 25th
Anniversary. Christmas is such a special time for everyone,
and particularly families of life limited or life threatened
children. Some may not spend another Christmas together.
Their time for a better life is now.
Our Christmas fundraising packs are back this year. They’re a
quick and simple way for friends and colleagues to easily raise
£32! This will pay for one hour of care for a child at one of our
hospices.
Order your fundraising
pack today!
It costs £32 to provide one hour of
care for a child at Acorns. How many
hours of care can you fund?
To get involved, request your poster
and money box by emailing
or calling 01564 825065.
Acorns car stickers
Just £1 each!
Acorns shopping bag
Was £2.00 Now £1.40
Watch
Was £2.50 Now £1.75
Bracelet
Was £2.00 Now £1.40
Notepad
Was £1.00 Now 70p
Visit our online shop at www.acorns.org.uk/shop to view the range and order your stocking fillers ready for Christmas!
Available while stocks last! Terms and Conditions apply.
Good luck and enjoy fundraising for Acorns! Every
penny and £1 you raise will help local children.
Acorns stocking fillers!Need some stocking filler ideas that make a difference?
We’re having a sale on Acorns merchandise just in time for the festive season!
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 6
Team Jazzy update!In the summer we told you about Dave Heap’s cycle challenge in memory of his 12
year old daughter, Jasmin, who received care from Acorns before she sadly passed
away last year. Team Jazzy, cycled the length of Britain (over 900 miles!) smashing
their fundraising target and raising £18,540 for Acorns and Alder Hey Imagine
Appeal! Dave said:
“The ride was wonderful, and the support we had was unbelievable. With
Acorns help, we coped to provide Jasmin with the fulfilled life that she
deserved. Jasmin's smile lit up the room, and I wanted to do something in her
memory to help other families. We were very pleased with the way people
have connected with the cause.”
Three Peaks
challenge! Paul Paveley, Kevin Whitehouse, Paul
Felgate, Dan Male and their support
crew; Cheryl Hill and Monica Brady have
completed the Three Peaks challenge
raising £1,000. The walkers, who
overcame torrential rain and injuries to
complete their challenge, decided to
support Acorns after a family member
had personal experience of the care and
support that Acorns provides. Paul
Paveley said:
"It meant a lot to all of us to be able to
support the great work Acorns does and
I would urge anyone thinking of doing
something similar to do so. I gained new
friends, great memories and a real
sense of achievement knowing it was all
for a great cause."
0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk6
Support from our local community
Pin badges andpotatoes!Moin Younis, aged 12, uses Acorns and has
been selling pin badges and balloons to his
friends, teachers and family, raising a
wonderful £30.38. He enjoys visiting Acorns
and said:
“Acorns are the best!
They look after you
very well, they listen
and everyone is always
happy. I especially like
their jacket potatoes
for lunch when I’m
there too!”
Christmas spiritLast Christmas, Sandra Evans at Birmingham City Hospital put up a Christmas
tree in her department, provided some tags and invited patients, staff, friends
and family to write a message on a tag for a loved one in return for a donation
to Acorns. Sandra raised £716 and said:
"We wanted to put a Christmas tree up but wanted one that was slightly
different. I had the idea of a memorial tree and people found that writing
words down was comforting. I was so thrilled by the response that I intend to
do the same this year and hope to beat last year’s total!”
Super slimmers! Members of Hammerwich Slimming World group collected the 5p change
from their meeting fees each week, raising £130! They also donated chocolate
and sweets from their chocolate amnesties and organised a swap shop raising
£40. Suzi Rigby, group organiser, explained:
“Members who have slimmed down brought in old clothes to swap with others
in return for a donation. Many members will also buy from charity shops, then
drop the clothes back again when they are too big, so win-win all round! Acorns
is our chosen charity as we appreciate all the support you give to the children.”
In August, a team from Acorns for
the Three Counties, including Sue
Curry, Nazmeen Bi, Kayleigh
Hawkins and Robbie Taylor, travelled
to London to be torchbearers in the
2012 Paralympic Torch Relay as it
made its way from Stoke Mandeville
to the Olympic Park. Kayleigh, aged
17, was chosen for being an inspirational sister after helping to care for her
brother before he sadly passed away last year. She said:
“I only had two hours’ sleep but it was a sensational once-in-a-lifetime
experience. The atmosphere was encouraging and overwhelming. Thank you
Acorns for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Paralympic torchbearers!
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Text NEWS12 £10 to 70070 to donate £10 to Acorns 7
Thank you all for your support!
As easy as APC! Members of APC Overnight, Staffordshire, have
boosted their ongoing support, raising over
£4,000 in just one night! Member depots came
together for a day of learning and planning before a
black-tie evening event. Attendees made
donations for a chance to win prizes donated by
suppliers of APC. Steve Salt, Head of Sales and
Marketing, said:
“We cannot
think of a
better charity
to support
than Acorns.
The work they
do for children
and their
families is
invaluable. Every time we go to the hospice, we
come away feeling privileged to have met such an
incredible group of people. We always leave
wanting to do as much as we possibly can to help
this amazing charity touch even more lives.”
A great innings for Acorns!Pak Travels and Barclays Bank, neighbour businesses in Birmingham,
played a friendly match at Moseley Cricket Club. Entertainment included
a barbeque, raffle, DJ and a cake sale. The event raised £1,000 which was
matched by Barclays. Paul Whelan from Barclays said: "We are proud to
have supported Acorns. It was a great day for everyone involved."
Hamza Waris from Pak Travels added: "The event brought the local
community and businesses together to show our support for Acorns." One Stop fun runOne Stop Shopping
Centre in Perry Barr
organised a fun run for
Acorns. Members of
the public, staff and
athletes from
Birchfield Harriers
completed a 5k or 3k
family route. Many
wore fancy dress!
They raised £500 for
the NOW is the time
appeal.
Fundraising fortnight Staff and students at Windsor High School raised over £2,000! Activities
included a sponsored silence, car washing, quizzes and selling cakes. They
presented Acorns with a cheque and an acorn, made by class 11H2
covered in copper and silver coins. Damien Kearns, Deputy Head Teacher
commented:
“Windsor students are delighted to invest time and energy in supporting
worthwhile causes. Ms Grant leads a dedicated team of students who
co-ordinate our approach to fundraising and I would like to thank them
particularly. In times of austerity it is fantastic that our students are able
to contribute to the great work carried out by the Acorns organisation
and we know that this money will be of valuable assistance to them.”
Sweet treats Doris Lay, Assistant Site Manager at King
Edwards VI Aston School, has been selling
cakes and sweets to raise funds for Acorns.
To date she has sold over 25 boxes! Doris said:
“It is not just what it means to me to sell the
cakes on behalf of Acorns but what it means to
the boys at the school as well. The boys are
happy to give and it is a pleasure to sell the
cakes for such a worthy cause”.
Ladies luncheonWe would like to thank Wendy
Jackson, Ellie Meaking and Sue
Shilvock for their hard work in
organising a hugely successful
fundraising luncheon, including a
bubbly and canapé reception
prepared by the youngsters of VMF,
which was held in the Holte Suite at
Aston Villa Football Club and raised an incredible £17,000. The football
club generously donated the room free of charge and there was
entertainment from the Tom Jones tribute artist - ‘Tom-Tastic’!
As part of our 25th Anniversary celebratory year, an inaugural luncheon will
be held on Thursday 16th May 2013, at Aston Villa Football Club in the
Holte Suite. For more information please contact Dawn Pawlett on
01564 825000 or [email protected]
NOW is the time
to get fundraising!
1 day, 880 miles!Motorcyclist Steve Shaw completed a 16-hour, 880
mile ride from John O'Groats to Land's End, raising
£1,035. Steve said:
"Despite the appalling weather conditions, I
enjoyed the trip and didn’t find it too difficult until
the last 100 miles into Land’s End. Torrential rain
and gale force winds made road conditions very
difficult so I was really pleased to see the finish line!
I arrived in Land’s End wet, exhausted but elated."
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 8
0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk
Fundraising ideas
Any good at wrapping presents? Offer a gift wrapping
service to friends and family in exchange for a donation
to the NOW is the time appeal!
Halloween fancy dress
Make things a bit spooky at work or
school this Halloween by organising
a Halloween fancy dress day!
Everyone makes a donation to
Acorns in return for looking as scary
as they can! Add an apple bobbing
competition for extra laughs!
Christmas present wrapping
New Year’s resolutions
Get sponsored to stick to one of your New Year’s
resolutions next year and donate the money to Acorns.
You can give yourself a time limit of a month, or even the
whole year! Why not get friends and family involved as
well to raise even more money!
Christmas carols
Warm up your vocal chords and hold a mini Christmascarol concert at home! Invite people to pay a smalldonation to listen and don’t worry if you can’t hold anote… it’s the taking part that counts.
Christmas bake sale
Test your baking skills by organising a
Christmas themed bake sale. Be as
creative as you like and donate the
proceeds to Acorns. A treat for everyone!
8
NOW is the timeto get fundraising!
Christmas quiz
Get in the festive spirit and organise a Christmas
themed quiz night with friends and family. Everyone has
to pay to take part and the winning team gets a prize!
New year raffle
Why not get together at work or school and donate
unwanted Christmas gifts to a new year’s raffle!
For support with your fundraising
please contact us on 01564 825065 or
Gifts that make morethan one person smileA festive gift idea with a difference! With our giveagiftrange you can purchase a truly meaningful gift for afriend or loved one this Christmas. Gifts range from£3 to £90, and include festive options like aChristmas feast at a hospice (£14), a Christmas cardarts and crafts group workshop (£25) or theopportunity for a child to settle down with one ofAcorns specialist carers to have a wonderfulChristmas story read to them (£7). Emma Aspinall atAcorns explains:
“We appreciate people may be feeling the pinch atthis time of year but our gift options range from thevery affordable, and even a small donation has awonderful impact at the hospice. The range hassomething for everyone, whether it’s just an extra littlegift to slip under the tree to add a bit of meaning,something for that person who seems to haveeverything or an alternative gift to chocolates for aschoolteacher.”
When you buy a gift, you will be provided with a giftcard (with space to write a personal message), atoken with details of the gift and an envelope in whichto forward the gift on to your recipient. The range isavailable online at www.acorns.org.uk/giveagift andis already proving a popular gift idea!
"I bought the giveagift 'Storytime' for my kids teachersat the end of the summer term. Not only could Idonate to my favourite charity, but also give a giftwith true meaning and value; something I know theteachers also appreciated. Giveagift isdefinitely going to be the number onepurchase for family and friends on myChristmas present list this year!"Jo Mathers
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 9
For parents of a child like Ekam,it can be difficult to find time to rest.
Become an
Acorns regulargiver and help
over 630 local lifelimited children,
like Ekam.
For more information and to become a regular giver, turn to page 19, visit
www.acorns.org.uk/regulargivingor email [email protected]
For every pound you give, 88p is spent on providing vital care and support services. We use the remaining 12p to raise the next pound.
At Acorns I am cared for
£14 pays for
one day's
food for a child during
their respite break
with Acorns
£4 pays for
medical
disposables and
drugs for a child
for one day
per month for 12months, pays for 4family splash sessions
£7 £16.08 a month, for 12months, pays for a childto receive a sessionfrom a dedicated SiblingSupport Worker
Four year old Ekam has congenital nephrotic syndrome – a rare inherited condition caused by a protein defect in the kidney. This life limiting condition commonly results in infection, malnutrition, and kidney failure. Ekam’s dad, Harpal, explains:
“Acorns has the experience and skills to look after the special needs of your child in the same way we can – allowing us to have a rest. They provide the best possible care for life limited children.”
Signing up to give a regular donation is the most powerful way you can support local children and their families. Regular gifts help us to plan wisely for our children. It is this foresight of planning that helps us maintain our numerous services such as; emergency care, complementary therapy and family support, as well as providing experiences that are educational, therapeutic and fun.
9
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0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk
Alex's adventures!Alex has been out and about across the region during the
summer! He’s been meeting lots of supporters to spread the
word about our NOW is the time appeal. Read on to hear
what he’s been up to!
“I went to Malvern for the
Acorns Triple Run - what
an exciting atmosphere!
Lots of my friends were
there and we had a great
time. My pal Tony Williams
was one of the runners. He
was wearing a magical
coat decorated with
hundreds of ‘good wish’
ribbon messages on it. We
were doing our good luck
dance to Mike’s music. Mike
Skilbeck’s a singer and song
writer from Worcester. I have
very talented friends! There were other important people there
too - the Mayor of Malvern was there and Karmen Ledgister,
who’s the Miss Worcestershire charity queen, and over 1,000
other fantastic friends. They raised an amazing £30k!
In July I had a special invite to
the New Alexandra Theatre
in Birmingham. I helped my
friends to meet and greet people
as they came in. The actors and
actresses who star in the
productions often pop in to visit
us at the hospice, so it was really
nice to visit them.
They were having a heritage day
and telling people all about the
history of the building. We got to
see backstage and some of the technical stuff that makes the
theatre work; it’s very different from the front. The face
painting was especially good! I made lots of new friends and
we collected over £25 to add to the theatre's fundraising total
of over £35k!
On Saturday I went to Bromsgrove High Street with my friend
Emma O’Neil who looks after some of the Acorns shops. She
said I could help Miss Birmingham to open the very newest
Acorns store! I love our charity stores; they’ve always got
brilliant bargains. Kris’ina Jagpal, she’s Miss Birmingham, cut
the ribbon and then we got to see inside. There was lots of
brilliant stuff in
there. I headed
straight for the
toys. There were
loads of great
games, brilliant
books and
DVDs. Everyone
just loved our
new store.
I’ve been to a brilliant bonanza too! Ian Hopwood, who’s the
Mayor of Malvern, held the event especially for Acorns! It was a
fantastic fun day. There were lots of people there in the
beautiful Priory Park!
There were fete stalls with loads to do. The ‘crafty kids’
workshop was great and I had a go on the inflatable and the
Victorian children’s ride. Then we headed to the drumming
workshop where I danced with all the children. There were lots
of different musicians there playing all sorts of music and
people were dancing enthusiastically waving Union Jack flags
to the brass band having a wonderful time! It was all very
exciting. The most exciting thing was they managed to raise
over £1,000 for Acorns!”
Alex Acorn
A special way to remember a loved oneIf you have lost a loved one, be it a family memberor friend, you may think about doing somethingspecial in their memory. Christmas time is when a lotof us think about and miss our loved ones the most.
Donations made in memory help Acorns to continue tosupport over 630 local children and young people withlife limiting or life threatening conditions and theirfamilies.
10
Artwork created by children at Acorns.
Did you know? If you have already donated in memory of a loved one, you could allow your gift to grow by opening a specialGolden Oak Tribute Fund in their name. If you choose to donate in your loved one’s memory on special occasions, we can add it totheir Golden Oak Tribute Fund. Find out more at www.acorns.org.uk/tributefunds
To make a donation in memoryplease visitwww.acorns.org.uk/inmemoryor contact Donna Tolladayon 01564 825017 [email protected]
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 11
Text NEWS12 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 to Acorns
A day in the life ofSue Brown & Steph Edwards who
work at our hospice in Selly Oak
Can you explain what you do?
Sue: We're part of a team who do all the cooking, cleaning and
housekeeping. We have to keep the hospice extremely clean
every day. We’re really grateful to Dee McCann, Volunteer
Manager, because she always gets in fantastic volunteers to
help us.
Steph: We cook for the children and their families and we chat
to them. There’s a team of us who work really well together. It’s
important that families don’t neglect their eating because of
what they’re going through. They need to eat to keep going.
Sue: If a family doesn’t want to eat at a meal time, we’ll put a
plate together for them in case they feel like it later.
What made you want to work for Acorns?
Sue: My mum went to St Mary’s Hospice and I thought what they
did for the residents was absolutely beautiful. Mum said, ‘You’ve
got such a gentle, caring personality you’d really like working in
that environment.’
Steph: I heard about Acorns from their Volunteers Manager,
Dee McCann. Then after Sue had been there for three months,
she told me what a lovely place it was to work. And seven years
later we’re still here!
Can you give us an insight into your day?
Steph: Different families come in with different needs. There
could be a call to say that a child is coming in from the Children’s
Hospital and we’ll cater for that family.
Sue: There’s a real feeling of togetherness. We meet all the
children’s individual dietary requirements.
Steph: Families come to chat to us because it’s different for
them compared with talking about treatment with a nurse.
Sue: We never say no. If older children want a McDonald’s, a
member of staff will pop out and get one.
Steph: There are special ‘adolescent weekends’ when some of
the older lads who have muscular dystrophy will go to the
cinema, with the appropriate staff, or they’ll have pizza and DVD
nights.
Sue: It was one lads' birthday recently so we made him a
birthday cake – it’s nice to do special things for them.
What’s your fondest memory?
Steph: There are so many, it’s hard to pin-point one.
Sue: We had a barbecue recently and lots of the families came.
It was such a memorable day.
Steph: One lovely lad used to follow me around while I was
cleaning asking me lots of questions. Then he’d announce, ‘the
ladies are cleaning!’
Sue: A little girl here at the moment keeps running around
shouting, ‘heeelloooo’ to everyone. It’s like working at home, it’s
lovely.
Steph: We’re really happy at Acorns – it’s really rewarding.
What’s nice is when families come up to you to say ‘that dinner
was lovely, thank you so much,’ or when they pass on nice
messages to their Community Team Worker. It’s nice to know
that we’ve looked after them and that we’re not forgotten.
What’s the most popular meal?
Both: Sunday roasts! We always do a roast every Sunday!
How would you sum up what Acorns does?
Steph: People sometimes get the wrong impression of what a
hospice is about. Here it’s about respite for children who need
24 hour care and helping families spend time with their other
children. The children have the best quality of life and we know
that they love it.
Sue: You see some families and you cannot imagine what
they’re going through, especially when they’ve had more than
one poorly child. We always make sure we’re smiling. Some
people say ‘I don’t know how you work there’ – but it’s not a sad
place.
Can you help support Acorns?
Meal times are a social experience with children, families
and staff sitting together in the dining room. Food is freshly
prepared every day in the hospice with all dietary
requirements being catered for.
£98 will pay for a week’s food for one child during their
stay at Acorns.
£14 will pay for one day’s food for a child during their stay
at Acorns.
To make a donation please turn to the donationform on the back cover.
The difference your support makes
11
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 12
0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk12
Support from our major partnersand local companies
Golf day successes Patrick Doocey, of M & A Doocey Civil Engineering Ltd,
organised a golf day at Great Barr Golf Club in May which raised
more than £13,500 for the NOW is the time appeal. The
event was inspired by the family’s experience of care from
Acorns for their daughter Laila. 84 players, including clients and
suppliers of the company, as well as friends of the family, made
donations after the competition. All holes were sponsored and
the fee to enter included a donation to Acorns. M & A Doocey
Civil Engineering Ltd was also a generous sponsor of the day.
Patrick said:
“Acorns care is vital to a family like ours, and we wanted to
help Acorns to support other families. It was a very good day,
which was unexpectedly hot. It was a success for the hospice,
which has always gone the extra mile for my family.”
Despite the wet summer months, other companies joined M &
A Doocey Civil Engineering Ltd in hosting their own Golf days.
MITIE Group Plc, Lyness Accountancy Practise, Midland Marble
Ltd and Cognitor collectively raised over £15,000!
Tyre-less efforts! Having chosen Acorns as their charity of the year for 2012,
Bridgestone UK have been working hard to raise much needed
funds for Acorns. From running, completing the Walk of
Worcestershire and a creme egg eating competition, to
monthly raffles and an Olympics Day, the whole office got
involved! Teams took part in sports on the Wii & Xbox, archery,
crazy golf, rowing, cycling and hoops. Staff dressed in sports
gear to raise £350, which Bridgestone then matched, to add
£700 to their already increasing total! Nichola Randall said:
“It was great to see so many people stray from their desks to
be involved with the fun activities for our Olympics day, even
the Directors couldn’t stay away! But there was nothing more
satisfying than helping to raise a fantastic amount of money
for a worthwhile cause such as Acorns! The fact that the
company then doubled the amount raised at the end of the
day was an added bonus!”
Taking the plunge for AcornsEmployees from the Kraft Foods site in Bournville took to their latest fundraising effort like ducks to water! 36 volunteers took part
in the ‘belly flop splash’ challenge at Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre, swimming a combined distance of 28,800 metres to raise
£8,000 for the NOW is the time appeal. Michael Huggins, Community Champion for Bournville Manufacturing, said:
”In this Olympic year, we wanted to organise an activity to show our support for Team GB, and raise money for a fantastic cause
in the process. We all put in a lot of hard work and effort to train for the challenge, and knowing how well we are being supported
and remembering what we’re doing it for, makes it all worthwhile.”
NOW is the timeto support us
at work!
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 13
Text NEWS12 £10 to 70070 to donate £10 to Acorns 13
When you think about
your family this
Christmas,please remember
another family too –
an Acorns family.
To request more information about how to leave a gift to Acorns in your Will, please contact Lindsay Stewart on
[email protected] or 01564 825039Alternatively you can read more at www.acorns.org.uk/legacies
At Acorns we understand that familyand loved ones always come first,
particularly at this time of year. Onceyou have cared for your loved ones inyour Will, you might choose to leave a
gift for another family too –an Acorns family.
Legacies are hugely important toAcorns Children’s Hospice, no matterhow large or small. Without them, wewould not be able to provide our vital
care and support services for life limitedor life threatened children and their
families, like Megan’s, in your local area.
“We couldn’t have gotthrough it without Acorns.”
Darrel & Louise Whiting, Megan’s parents.
Pictured: Megan Whiting who received care from Acorns.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 14
0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk14
Support Acorns this Christmas
NOW is the timeto support Acorns this ChristmasAcorns cares for over 630 life limited or life threatened
children. These children are unlikely to reach adulthood as a
cure for their condition cannot be found. Please help us to
make this Christmas really special for them and their families.
There are a variety of ways you can support Acorns – read on
to discover the options and help make a Christmas wish come
true!
Look out for your Christmas appeal
letter!We want to make every day as special as Christmas for
children who come to Acorns, but to do this we need your
help. You will soon receive our Christmas appeal letter and
inside you’ll read about one of the families we care for at
Acorns. We need your support each and every day to provide
care for our children and their families. Your appeal letter will
explain exactly how you can make a difference.
Giving a one-off donationAny amount you are able to donate will make a huge
difference. You can use the form on the back cover of this
newsletter to make a donation to help make Christmas special
for our children and their families. Alternatively you can donate
online at www.acorns.org.uk/donate
£4 pays for medicaldisposables anddrugs for a childfor one day
per month for 12months, pays for 4family splash sessions
£7
£14 pays for
one day's
food for a child during
their respite break
with Acorns
£16.08 a month, for 12months, pays for a childto receive a sessionfrom a dedicated siblingsupport worker
Making a regular donationGiving regularly is a cost effective and simple way to
support Acorns. It means we have a monthly income we
can rely on that will enable us to plan our care services
with confidence to help us to reach local children and
provide support for their families.
Setting up a regular donation couldn’t be easier - simply
complete the form on page 19 or visit
www.acorns.org.uk/regulargiving. You can choose
to make a monthly, quarterly or annual donation of an
amount to suit you.
Acorns Christmas
cardsAcorns Christmas cards are
now available to buy online at
www.acorns.org.uk/shop
and in our shops! Each pack
of cards is priced at £3.25
with 100% of the profit from
each sale going directly to
Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Request a card brochure
now by calling 01564
825027.
VolunteeringCan you offer any of your spare time to help
Acorns this Christmas? You could make a
difference by being a part of our amazing
volunteer teams. Whether it is a few hours a
week or an hour a day, there’s a role to suit
you! We rely on volunteers to help in our
hospices, shops, administration team and
of course, helping out in our community
during collections and events. For more
information please visit www.acorns.org.uk/volunteering
The difference your donation will make:
However you choose to support us, you will be helping to make every day as special as
Christmas for local children and their families.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 15
Our Daisy Chain Tribute Funds
are a special way for families
to do something special in
memory of children who have
received care from Acorns.
Family, friends or colleagues
can pay lasting tribute to your
child’s life after they have
passed away.
If you have donated to Acorns in memory of your child, or
taken part in any fundraising activities, the money you have
raised could go into a Daisy Chain Tribute Fund.
Moira Hastelow’s daughter Leah Cerys Brookhouse
(pictured left with her brother, Callum) received care from
Acorns before she sadly passed away aged just 37 days.
Moira said:
“The Daisy Chain Tribute Fund is a way for us to keep Leah's
memory vibrant. As a bereaved parent it is very important
to focus on the good times we spent together as a family -
and hopefully Leah, who was known affectionately as 'Our
Lady with Attitude' would approve!"
For more information please contact Donna Tolladay on
[email protected] or 01564 825017.
Alternatively please contact your Community Team Worker.
Text NEWS12 £3 to 70070 to donate £3 to Acorns 15
The difference your support makes
Redrow Foundation Housing developer Redrow has shown its caring side with a
donation of £7,500 that will cover the total cost of running one
of Acorns hospices for a day. Matthew Pratt, Managing Director
of Redrow Homes (Midlands), said:
“We are building new homes across the Black Country and in
Worcester, which are close to two of Acorns three hospices.
Many of those who work for Redrow are parents and we all
recognise that it’s such an important charity for the local
community. Acorns needs a constant supply of funds to
continue its vital work and we’re delighted to be able to
support the hospice. Hopefully other organisations will follow
our lead and give generously to the NOW is the time appeal.”
Wonderful walkers!Over 10,000 walkers took part in the Free Radio Walk for Harry
in May. The event was created in memory of, and as a tribute to,
Harry Moseley, who tirelessly raised funds for cancer research
whilst fighting his own battle with brain cancer. The event
included a 10 mile family walk and a longer 26 mile walk around
the perimeter of Birmingham city centre. It raised in excess of
£420,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns
Children’s Hospice who both offered support to Harry and his
family during his illness.
Following the success of the Walk for Harry, Free Radio teamed
up with Worcester Bosch Group to organise the Walk of
Worcestershire, also in support of Acorns. The 10.5 mile walk
took place in some of the county’s most scenic routes and
proceeds were to directly benefit our hospice in Worcester.
The event was a huge success with over 4,100 people donning
their walking shoes to take part, and a fantastic day was
enjoyed by all. £108,211 was pledged. A huge thank you to all
who took part and made these events very special.
NOW is the timeto make a difference
Caterpillar Finance In May, five members of staff from
Caterpillar Finance helped with
preparations for the Free Radio
Walk for Harry. The volunteers
were tasked with inserting flyers
into our bright orange Acorns
drawstring bags which were
handed out to participants on the
day. The team got really stuck in
and managed to put eight
thousand flyers into eight
thousand bags in just a few hours!
Liz Stoneley, at Acorns, said:
“They were a delight to have in the
office and we were thrilled with the amount of bags filled - we
simply could not have done it without them. Coffee, tea and
cakes flowed throughout the day. Huge thanks to go to all of
them.”
Are you an Acorns parent or family?
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 16
0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk16
Take part in an Acorns event
Thank you
2012 has been a great year for events at Acorns! Since the last
newsletter we have seen 115 cyclists challenge themselves to
ride through the Severn Valley Country Park with fundraising
pledges totalling £15,000. Thank you to everyone who took
part and to all the supporters who sponsored and cheered
them on along the way!
A sea of pink t-shirts
filled Victoria Square
in September!
Hundreds of ladies,
lots of volunteers,
3 photographers,
1 warm up instructor
and Free Radio all
turned out to support
Acorns at the
Midnight Walk. The
10km ladies only walk took in some of Birmingham’s most
iconic venues at Midnight and pledges on the night reached a
fantastic £45,000!
8 intrepid cyclists each rode 300 miles from London to Paris
raising nearly £10,000 between them! The challenge took the
group from London through the Kent countryside, across the
channel and into France. Then on through towns and
battlefields before finishing at the Eiffel Tower. From 10-14th
July 2013 we will once again be offering you the chance to get
on your bike or cycle. For more information and to register visit
www.acorns.org.uk/l2p
This year, more than 50 brave supporters have taken a
tandem skydive from 10,000ft over the picturesque
Northampton landscape pledging a breathtaking £22,500 for
Acorns! We have even had our first ever Acorns proposal in the
summer when skydiver Phil Heath proposed to his girlfriend on
reaching the landing zone! Our next group skydive will take
place on Saturday 15th June 2013 - visit
www.acorns.org.uk/skydive for more information.
As we go to print, our second abseil of the year is due to take
place! We’ll report more on our challenge to the local business
community to give something back on pay day in the next
issue! The event is hoped to raise £10,000.
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our events so far
this year. The money you raise through your sponsorship is
vital to ensure Acorns is able to continue to provide care
services for local life limited children and their families.
www santasontherun org uk
Saturday 8th December 2012 Brindleyplace, BirminghamSunday 9th December 2012 Walsall ArboretumPut on your Santa suit with colleagues,friends and family to raise vital funds thisChristmas! There’s something for everyone! –a 2km Santa Stroll or 4km Santa Run –in both Birmingham and Walsall. All routesare wheelchair and pushchair friendly.
To register visit www.acorns.org.uk/santa call 0844 984 0405 or email [email protected]
Run or stroll for a good claus!
Run or stroll for a good claus!
Run or stroll for a good claus!
New routes for 2012!New routes for 2012!
If you have sponsorship money to send in, you can
do this by post, online or over the phone.
By post: Cheques should be made payable to Acorns
Children’s Hospice and sent with your sponsor form to:
Events Team, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Drakes Court,
Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JR.
Online: Visit www.acorns.org.uk/donate (remember
to include the name of your event when prompted).
Phone: Call 0844 984 0405 with you credit or debit
card details ready.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:25 Page 17
India Cycle Challenge14th-24th November 2013
Text NEWS12 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 to Acorns
NOW is the timeto sign up for one
of our events!
To find out more please contact Donna Tolladay on 01564 825017,
[email protected] or visit www.acorns.org.uk/tributefunds
Were you inspired by the Olympics and fancy taking on
a challenge of your own? Why not join our India Cycle
Challenge from Jaipur to Agra! Cycle 400km through
Rajasthan – the Land of the Kings - and experience the
desert landscape before completing your challenge at
the Taj Mahal. This unique trip is the ideal opportunity
to get fit, challenge yourself and make
new friends.
Find out more at
www.acorns.org.uk/indiacycle
call 0844 984 0405
or email
London Marathon Join the Acorns team! Have you secured a place for the London
Marathon? If so, we’d love you to join us! As part of the Acorns
team, you will receive a running vest, fundraising pack, sponsor
forms and an opportunity to join team socials. These are great to
get advice and support from other runners in the lead up to the
event. Becoming a part of the Acorns team is a fantastic
experience for novice and experienced runners. To join our team
call 0844 984 0405 or email [email protected]
17
A special way to remember a loved one
Golden Oak Tribute FundsIf you have ever made a donation to Acorns in memory of a loved one, you
could open a Golden Oak Tribute Fund in their name. A tribute fund may be a
comfort to you as a lasting memorial to your loved one. Friends and family can
also donate to the fund if they wish to, and help it grow to support Acorns work
with local life limited children. Mr George who sadly lost his son last year,
opened a Golden Oak Tribute Fund in his memory. He explains:
"The Fund helps because it gives you motivation to keep doing things and the
hope that if you keep doing it slowly over time, you will be able to remember
the good times with the person you have lost and smile at the memories as
they would have wanted."
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:26 Page 18
P
. . .
..
.
. .
.
I would like to
S
I
I
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.
.
.......................
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0845 120 6892 [email protected] www.acorns.org.uk18
Our retail chain
New store opensin Bromsgrove!
Shoppers were bubbling over with
bargains as Miss Birmingham cut the
ribbon to open Acorns new store in
Bromsgrove in July. Located in High
Street, the store opened its doors when
Kris’ina Jagpal, the reigning Miss
Birmingham, cut the ribbon and declared
it open. Kris’ina, aged 24, looked over
Acorns bargains, including Kurt Geiger
designer shoes, and said:
“I love the look of the store. It’s great to
have the honour of opening it - I’m happy
to support such a good cause.”
There was great support from shoppers
too. Acorns urgently needs donations,
relying on them for the majority of its
income, to provide 24/7 care for children
and families. Local people can help us by
donating quality goods, including
children's clothes and toys, ladies and
men’s clothes and accessories,
household items, books, CDs and DVDs.
Goods not in a resale-able condition are
welcome as they can raise funds as ‘rag’.
Visit www.acorns.org.uk/shops to find
your local store.
NOW is the timeto support your
local store
Acorns ChristmascardsAcorns Christmas cards are available to buy
online at www.acorns.org.uk/shop and
in our shops! Each pack of cards is priced
at £3.25 and contains 10 cards of one
design and 10 envelopes. 100% of the
profit goes to Acorns Children’s Hospice.
You can request a Christmas card
brochure by calling 01564 825027.
Parissa’s storyParissa Bagheri aged 17, has been volunteering at our shop in Droitwich Spa for
ten months. Here she gives an insight of what’s involved. “I wanted to volunteer
for Acorns as it’s a cause that I felt passionate about. I like the feeling of
knowing that I am helping to make a difference to life limited and life
threatened children in the region, regardless of how small”.
Volunteering in the shop, Parissa says, has shown her how important teamwork
is; “I am proud to be part of a team who is so dedicated to making a difference
to Acorns children and their families”.
Positive feedback from customers also encourages Parissa and has helped
build her confidence since she has started volunteering for Acorns, “Last week I
had a customer thank me for my help and say how unusual it was to see
someone of my age volunteering in a charity shop. Comments like that really
encourage you to keep going”.
“We receive so many donations
of items from both local people
and people from outside the
area who want to help us. The
most popular items that we sell
are children’s clothes and toys
as well as books, which never
seem to stay on the shelves for
long.
Without public donations,
Acorns charity shops wouldn’t
be able to do what they do
which Parissa recognises: “ I’d
like to thank the public for all
their caring donations and say
keep giving, keep buying and
keep interested”.
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:26 Page 19
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Please complete your details in the boxes below.
Title: Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms: ................................. First Name: ................................................................. Surname: .............................................................................................
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Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit: Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust, Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6JR.
Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions from some types of account
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TAXPAYERS! Use Gift Aid and you can make your donation worth more. For every pound you give to us, we can currently claim at least 25% back from theGovernment, without it costing you a penny extra. So just tick below. It’s that simple!
I want Acorns Children’s Hospice to reclaim tax on all of my donations made in the past four years and on all donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise*
If you are unable to make a donation at this time, but have donated to Acorns Children’s Hospice in the past, please still tick this box so we can claim Gift Aid on your previous donations*
Acorns Children’s Hospice, Drakes Court,Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6JR. www.acorns.org.ukA company limited by guarantee. Company no: 2036103 Registered charity no. 700859
This guarantee should be detached and retained by the Payer
THE DIRECT DEBIT GUARANTEE• This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit Acorns Children’s Hospice will notify you 10 working
days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Acorns Children’s Hospice to collect a payment,
• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Acorns Children’s Hospice or your bank or building society you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society.- If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Acorns Children’s Hospice asks you to.
• Please also notify us.
To the Manager of ..............................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................... Bank/Building Society
Address .................................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................... Postcode ..............................................................
Name(s) of Account Holder(s) ....................................................................................................................
Bank/Building Society account number Branch Sort Code
Reference number
9 7 3 0 0 9
Thankyou !
Date of birth: ..................................................................................................................
INSTRUCTION TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY - Please pay Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust Direct Debits from the account detailed in this instruction subject tothe safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust and, if so, details will be passedelectronically to my Bank/Building Society.
of every month / quarter / year (please delete as applicable)
Service users number
……………………………………………………………………………………….............................................................................................…….
Do you have a special reason for becoming a regular giver or a personal story which might help encourage other supporters to sign up too?
If so, please give brief details here
* NOTE: To qualify for Gift Aid, you must pay an amount of income tax and / or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount Acorns will reclaim in the tax year. Please let us know if your circumstanceschange so that we can amend our records. Please make sure that your name and address is filled clearly and in full so that we are able to make a claim to the HMRC.
Give a regular gift
INSTRUCTION TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY
Setting up a regular donation couldn’t be easier - simply complete the form below and return it to
Acorns Children’s Hospice, Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6JR.
Alternatively you can visit www.acorns.org.uk/donate to set up your regular donation online.
19
Acorns_Newsletter_14_Layout 1 20/09/2012 10:26 Page 20
N OW is the time
There are lots of ways to make a donation tosupport local life limited or life threatened children.If you would like to show your support by making a donation please use the donation form below or choose one
of the following options.
Your donation will make a real difference and help Acorns continue to provide specialist care to local children and young people
with life limiting or life threatening conditions and support for their families.
By postReturn your completed donation
form (below) with your credit/debit
card details or a cheque made payable
to Acorns Children’s Hospice
By phoneCall 01564 825000 to make
a donation over the phone
OnlineVisit www.acorns.org.uk/donate
to make a donation online
Text to donateText NEWS 12 followed by £3,,£5
or £10 to 70070 (e.g. NEWS12 £10).
Acorns will receive 100% of the
donation. No network charges apply.
If you are a UK taxpayer you can make your donation work
even harder by ticking the Gift Aid box below. This means
that for every £1 you give us, we get at least 25% back from the Government. Thank you for your support
Registered office: Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6JR.Registered charity no: 700859Registered in England Company No. 2036103www.acorns.org.uk
Please complete this form and return to:Together Newsletter, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Drakes Court,Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JR.
Donation form
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Or please debit my: Visa
Card No.
Expiry Date:........... /........... Valid From:........... /........... Issue No. Security Code
Signature:........................................................................................................................................................ Date: .............................................................
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Please send me information about making a donation in my Will
TAXPAYERS! Use Gift Aid and you can make your donation worth more. For every pound you give to us, we can currently claim at least 25% back from
the Government, without it costing you a penny extra. So just tick below. It’s that simple!
I want Acorns Children’s Hospice to reclaim tax on all of my donations made in the past four years and on all donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise *
If you are unable to make a donation at this time, but have donated to Acorns Children’s Hospicein the past, please still tick the above box so we can claim Gift Aid on your previous donation/s *
* NOTE: To qualify for Gift Aid, you must pay an amount of income tax and / or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount Acorns will reclaim in the tax year. Please let us know if your circumstances change so that we can amend our records. Please make sure that your name and address is filled in clearly and in full so that we are able to make a claim to the Government.
Acorns may contact you in the future using the details provided on this formabout our work and how you can support us. If you prefer not to be contactedplease tick this box
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Occasionally, we agree with carefully selected charities to contact eachother’s supporters for our mutual benefit. If you do not wish to hear from themplease tick this box
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(Please supply an email address as this is the mostcost-effective way for us to contact you).
Please tick here if you would like to receive future newsletters by email rather than post
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