Hospice charity asks for help after shop break-in

Children’s charity Acorns is asking for help after a break-in at its Kings Heath shop caused damage totalling more than £2,000.

The charity operates three specialist children’s hospices in the West Midlands. Every year it provides care to more than 800 local life-limited and life-threatened children, and support for their families.

Acorns has set up a JustGiving page in response to the damage, which has so far raised £2,800 in less than a day: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/acornskingsheath

“I’m so angry and so sad,” said Acorns chief executive Toby Porter.

“What sort of people will come into a children’s hospice charity shop and smash the place up? My team here reckon the damage to our till, our computers, and three doors is £2,000 and we reckon these people probably got away with about £100 of cash.

“It’s just not acceptable. Charity shops are how charities like Acorns keep children’s hospices open at any time, particularly now.”

Fleur Sexton, the West Midlands deputy lieutenant and managing director of PET-Xi who donated through the Acorns JustGiving page, added: “Don’t be discouraged by this. You do incredible work for young people who need you to be the amazing people you are. Look at all the love in the community for you x”

Its charity shops are a key part of its fundraising efforts, which have been badly affected by the lockdowns which have restricted non-essential retailers. In April it was able to reverse plans to close its Walsall hospice after a two-year fundraising campaign raised £2m.

Toby Porter reacted to the damage caused by the break-in, which included the donation tin on the shop counter being emptied: