An internationally renowned ambassador of the Sikh faith, Dr Mohinder Singh OBE, has underlined the importance of support across the entire community for Acorns, Birmingham’s local children’s hospice charity. During his visit last week, Dr Singh, more commonly known as Bhai Sahib, visited Acorns’ branch in Selly Oak for a tour of the facilities and to see first-hand the charity’s work providing care for life-limited and life-threatened children and young people and support for their families.
He met and spoke to families, from across different religious and ethnic communities, about how they and their children have been supported by Acorns. He spoke at length to members of the Asian Mum’s group, a group of bereaved mothers supported by Acorns. Bhai Sahib expressed how invaluable the support of local community was, to help the charity continue its work, which in the past year has seen it care over 270 children and around 360 families, including those who are bereaved at Acorns in Birmingham.
Toby Porter, Acorns’ Chief Executive, said “it was a great opportunity to talk about the work we do, not just in the hospice but also in the community as we support local families with the many challenges they face every single day,” adding, “40% of the children who Acorns in Birmingham currently support are from a (Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic) BAME background, diversity and inclusion are really important to us and we are proud that our Asian Mum’s group have been running for 25 years”.
Acorns relies on fundraising to raise nearly £10 million per year needed to provide the range of specialist medical and psychosocial services the children and their families rely on, in the hospice and the community.
