BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN’S HOSPICE HAS A TALE OF A TIME THANKS TO HOUSEBUILDER’S STORYTELLING DONATION

A West Midlands-based children’s hospice has received a donation of unique storytelling videos, put together especially for them by leading developer Barratt Homes.

MicrosoftTeams-image (11) BWM – Staff at Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham with the storytelling donations from Barratt Homes

Barratt formed a partnership with a professional storyteller to put together a number of stories to provide entertainment for children visiting Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham. The Selly Oak hospice is located close to the housebuilder’s Berrington Place development on St. Luke’s Road in Birmingham.

Before the pandemic, Barratt Homes regularly organised storytelling events with schools and community groups, however due to the vulnerable nature of the children that visit, the housebuilder put their innovative hat on to organise a donation that would best suit their needs.

Libby Kaluna, Partnership Fundraising Manager at Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Barratt Homes for their very generous donation – this selection of storytelling videos and goodies is so thoughtful!

“At Acorns we’re all about creating precious moments for children and families visiting our hospices and sharing stories is one our favourite activities. So these videos will definitely bring lots of smiles and joy. Thank you so much!”

As well as the storytelling videos, the housebuilder also arranged a delivery of exciting extras, including soft toys, magic wands, costume items, and musical instruments, in order to make the videos as interactive as possible for the children.

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for life limited and life threatened children across the West Midlands and support for their families.

The charity was established in 1988, beginning with Acorns hospice in Birmingham. Acorns in Black Country, based in Walsall, opened in 1999, followed by Acorns for the Three Counties, based in Worcester, in 2005.

Acorns hospices provide a home-from-home environment where children take part in a range of fun and therapeutic activities, from arts and crafts sessions to hydrotherapy. Children visit Acorns for respite, short breaks, end of life and emergency care.

In the past year, the charity has cared for over 820 children across the region and supported more than 1,077 families.

Creator of the videos, Richard York, said: “It’s been a great pleasure to record this selection of stories for Acorns, which I’ve designed to appeal to the whole age range there, from youngest to oldest. Hearing tales told has, after all, been valued by people of all ages for thousands of years. For the recordings I’ve also arranged and played appropriate music, on a range of instruments.

“I’ve loved storytelling in schools and homes prior to Covid-19, and am grateful in these strange times that this opportunity has been made to bring stories to the people at Acorns, so that, hopefully, they can enjoy hearing them as often as they like.”

Adrian Evans, Managing Director at Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “As a leading developer it is really important that we support the community in the areas in which we build.

“Children have been very fond of past storytelling sessions that we have organised, and we wanted the children residing at Acorns to be able to enjoy this experience in a safe environment. We are thrilled to be supporting Acorns Children’s Hospice, and in difficult times like these, we’re encouraging more people to support their local community.”