Bradley is continuing the fight to save the Children’s Hospice Grant ahead of the Government’s first Budget.
Yesterday (October 17th), Bradley met with representatives from Acorns Children's Hospice to discuss their ongoing campaign to ensure the Government maintains this vital funding.
Acorns’ total income from the Children’s Hospice Grant this year (2024-25) is £2,098,000. However, the picture after this year is unclear.
The hospice, which is headquartered in Wythall, is warning that, without a guaranteed Children’s Hospice Grant, Acorns and other children’s hospices will have no choice but to make difficult decisions about cutting vital services.
Acorns has said these important budget decisions need to be made by November 2024, which is why Bradley has previously written to the Chancellor ahead of her first Budget later this month, urging her to protect and maintain the Children’s Hospice Grant as a directly distributed, ringfenced grant, so Acorns, and every children’s hospice in England can continue providing the care children and families desperately need.
And, to give Acorns and local families the assurances they need, Bradley is also calling on the Government to guarantee the grant for at least five years and increase it by the rate of inflation every year.
Bradley said:
“It’s unthinkable that the most in need children could be turned away if the Government doesn’t maintain the Children’s Hospice Grant.
“The Chancellor must guarantee this vital funding which will allow Acorns and hospices across the country to be there for every child and family who needs them.
“I'll continue to do all I can to ensure they continue to receive this vital funding which enables them to be there for every child and family who needs them.”
For more information on Acorns’ campaign to save the Children’s Hospice Grant, please visit: www.acorns.org.uk/what-we-do/campaign.
