Care for a Dying Child

At

the end of a child’s life... Help give parents the power of choice

A child’s last breath. It’s the darkest time of a family’s life.

No parent should ever have to say goodbye to their child, but when the unimaginable happens, you can help.

Acorns gives families the power of choice when their child dies. We help them make heartbreaking decisions in those final moments. The power of choice allows them to say goodbye where they feel most comfortable.

This vital need for end-of-life care at Acorns has increased by 47% over the past year. Your gift of £25,000 means we can be there for every family facing this unimaginable journey until the very end - and beyond.

During the darkest of times our hospices offer warmth, homeliness and calm.

We see families and children as individuals, providing personalised care and support. We support all religious and spiritual beliefs.

Without Acorns, families in need could be navigating this unimaginable journey completely alone.

Luca (aged 2), died peacefully in his parents’ arms at Acorns in Birmingham We were with Luca when he took his last breath.

It was the middle of the night and the nurses said we should cuddle him. I’m so grateful they did that. He died in our arms.

- Luca’s mum, Zoe

Help them make memories

Whether they are nearing the end of life or have already died, memory making is a way for families to remember their child.

A memory box of keepsakes, from handprints and footprints, to plaster casts, photos and crafts, helps them treasure the precious time they spent together.

This special work takes place at our hospices, in the family home, in the hospital or at funeral homes.

Your gift of £25,000 will mean we can give every family a memory box full of keepsakes they can hold onto forever.

to come to Acorns. When we talked about making a hand mould, she joked about how morbid it was.

But she wanted to make it into a heart shape, so we could remember her. Acorns helped make that happen and it showed her immense strength.

- Hannah’s mum, Christine

Help families say goodbye

At the heart of Acorns hospices are our special bedrooms. In these temperature-controlled rooms, a child can stay for around two weeks after death.

It gives families a sanctuary –and the chance to hold their child that little while longer.

Your gift of £25,000 will ensure families can stay by their child’s side and say goodbye at their own pace and in their own way.

Lily-Mai (aged 7) came to Acorns for the Three Counties for end-of-life care. She stayed in our special bedroom for three weeks.

The special bedroom meant we could still visit Lily at any time we wanted, and really to take our time to say goodbye. That’s not possible in a funeral home. I couldn’t bear seeing them drive off with her and then having to make an appointment to see my child.

I could hold her hand, read her stories and give her a kiss goodnight. We were still able to give her love and care.

Because of Acorns, we spent extra time with Lily before she went to her forever bed.

- Lily-Mai’s mum, Liz

The growing need

In the past year, we have seen significant and unexpected growth in the level of support we provide for children and families coming to Acorns for end-of-life care.

Families are also spending more time at our hospice, with the length of stays almost doubling on average.

In the past year...

> The vital need for end–of-life care at Acorns has increased by 47%

> We have supported more than 400 bereaved family members

> There have been more than 15,000 instances of emotional and practical support delivered by the Acorns Family Services team

> We have cared for more than 750 children across the West Midlands, and supported almost 1,000 families

> In total, Acorns needs around £30,000 each day to provide its children’s hospice care

Without your support, we will not be able to help

When Aum was at Acorns we wanted whatever time we had left to be the best it could be. We spent the whole of that morning holding him. When it was time for him to go, it was so calm. He was at peace.

- Aum’s dad, Vikas

Key benefits

By choosing to support our vital end-of-life care services you will be helping us ensure we can continue being there for hundreds of children and families across the West Midlands, during the hardest time of their lives. No parent imagines their child will die before they do. You can help us ensure their lives are celebrated, respected and remembered, no matter how long or short their life is.

To show our appreciation and gratitude we would love to offer you:

> Several bespoke hospice tours, enabling you to come and see firsthand the difference your support will make to Acorns. We can host multiple tours for you at our Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester hospices.

> Meet a member of our Care team, giving you an opportunity to learn more about Acorns and ask questions.

> Photo opportunities at the hospices and at your offices. We would love to create a recognition opportunity for your contribution and organise photos of you and your teams to share on our social media.

> Bespoke piece of artwork created by an Acorns child just for you.

> Year-long feature on the Acorns website, having your logo showcased across 2024-25 showing your support, to inspire and motivate other businesses in the region.

> Bespoke social media posts to recognise your support across all of our social media platforms (X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook – circa 54,940 followers).

> Feature in an organic press release created by our PR and Communications team and sent to local media to recognise your support in the region, with an expected media audience reach of between 5 and 10 million.

Help us support every step and beyond

A family’s journey doesn’t just end when their child dies. Our specialist Family Services team is there whenever they are needed. They are experts in providing support to help families find ways of coping and navigating life following the devastating loss of a child.

Your gift of £25,000 will ensure families are not alone in their grief.

The need for our support when a child reaches end of life has s unexpectedly increased in the past year.

We cannot sustain this lifeline without you Together, we are stronger.