Freedom Through Therapy

When

a child is in pain... Help give them the freedom of movement

A child is suffering.

They can’t tell you they’re in pain.

No child should ever have to suffer in silence. Some of the children we care for will be in some sort of pain every day of their lives. Many are too young or unable to communicate their pain. But when they are facing hidden discomfort, you can help.

Acorns gives children the chance to enjoy moments of life free from or with reduced pain so they can sing, swim and express who they are in their own way. We help them make music, create art or splash around with their families. The freedom of movement offers relief and allows them to just be children.

Your gift of £25,000 will help us to give them the freedom of comfort they deserve.

It’s important for us to make every moment count. We listen and recognise what is really good for a child, and then we can make something special happen.

- Kevin Harvey, Physiotherapist

You can help them do the things they love

At Acorns, our specially trained physiotherapists work with children visiting our hospices to give them the comfort they need to enjoy all the things they love doing. Whether that’s creating handmade keepsakes in our art therapy rooms or making some noise during music therapy.

What’s so special is that we spend time with each child to really understand their individual needs and build trust with the child and their family. This physiotherapy is crucial for minimising their pain.

Your gift of £25,000 will help a child to live their best life.

We can make sure the child is comfortable, and ensure they have the access they need to different activities, like play, arts and craft, and ensure they can access those for as long as they can.

- Chloe Smith, Physiotherapist

Help them feel freedom

Imagine you are child who uses Acorns, who spends every day in a wheelchair or bed, with limited ability to move and make yourself comfortable.

For many children, playing in water can literally change their lives. Hydrotherapy – therapy in water - has a powerful impact and gives them movement that is impossible on land.

Our hospices each have hydrotherapy facilities that families can access. Unlike public pools, their warming waters are kept at 32 degrees to help children relax, stretch their muscles and ease their pain. It can be transformative, giving them a sense of freedom and enabling them to feel calm for days afterwards.

We provide hundreds of hours of therapy in our pools, with immense clinical benefits.

Your gift of £25,000 will give children power to move.

Jack and his family come to our Acorns for the Three Counties for hydrotherapy

Jack is happiest when he’s in the water at Acorns. The

water

gives him freedom, where he is not in pain.

It makes a huge difference to Jack. It’s the only time he smiles. We did go to a public swimming pool once. It was freezing cold and he was sick so everyone had to get out of the pool. I was mortified. But at Acorns you can feel safe and spend time together as a family.

- Jack’s mum, Catherine

The power to do more

Our work to give children and families the power of freedom extends further than ever before.

Art, sensory activities, music and other complimentary therapies give them all the ability to communicate, to relax, to enjoy - and to create precious, long-lasting memories.

Your gift of £25,000 will ensure they get therapy they need.

back with cards and crafts. When your child gets a diagnosis like Oscar’s there are lots of things you think won’t happen. I never thought I’d be called ‘Mum’, but at Acorns Oscar made my first card, with his hand and fingerprints. He now makes all those things I never thought I’d have during art therapy. Precious things I can hold onto and keep forever.

- Oscar-Ray’s mum, Charlotte

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. In the past year...

> We have provided more than 400 hours of physiotherapy

> We have provided more than 550 hours and more than 1,000 hydrotherapy sessions

> 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 them all.

Seeing Haniya enjoying hydrotherapy is lovely. She is so much more lively in the water as she can move her body. You can see the change immediately, which is why we try to bring her as much as possible.

Your gift of £25,000 could pay for 143 hydrotherapy sessions.

- Haniya’s mum, Shabana

Key benefits

By choosing to support our vital therapeutic services you will be helping us ensure we can continue being there for hundreds of children and families across the West Midlands.

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 an Acorns Physiotherapist so you can hear first hand the impacts of hydrotherapy and physiotherapy on an Acorns child.

> 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 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

Our work to give children and families the power of freedom extends further than ever before.

Art, sensory play, music and other complimentary therapies give them all the ability to communicate, to relax, to enjoy - and to create precious, long-lasting memories.

Your gift of £25,000 will ensure children and families get vital therapies to give them the freedom they desperately need.

We cannot sustain this lifeline without you

Together, we are stronger.

Watch our video about therapies