Philanthropy_Therapies

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 generous support will help us to give them the freedom of comfort they deserve.

Kevin provides physiotherapy at Acorns in the Black Country

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, Acorns 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 support will help a child to live their best life.

Our specialist physiotherapists advise on the best use of equipment, for safe moving, handling and positioning of children to ensure maximum comfort.

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, Acorns 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 waterhas 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.

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 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

£25,000 would pay for 143 hydrotherapy sessions.

Shabana brings daughter Haniya to Acorns in Birmingham for hydrotherapy

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.

-Haniya’s mum, Shabana

How you can help

Without you, children and families simply wouldn’t get the freedom they desperately need. Your support will help fund transformative therapies that give children the comfort they need to enjoy the things they love.

> £5,000 would cover the role of a physiotherapist at one of our hospices for one month.

> £10,000 will cover the cost of running care services within one hospice and in the community, for one day.

> £25,000 will mean we can cover the cost of providing music therapy across our hospices for a year.

> £50,000 would fund an Acorns physiotherapist for a year.

> £100,000 would cover the cost of delivering over 1,100 hydrotherapy sessions for children receiving care at Acorns.

> £500,000 will cover the cost of delivering over 1,000 hydrotherapy sessions at our hospices for five years. Your generosity could help fund transformative therapies that give children the comfort they need to enjoy the things they love.

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 support 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.

If you would like to know more about Acorns and how you can help, please contact us. philanthropy@acorns.org.uk

Registered charity no: 700859 Registered in England company no. 2036103.

Registered office: Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6JR.