‘Hands for Hope’ campaign demands long-term funding
An emotionally charged campaign led by Acorns Children’s Hospice has brought the voices – and handprints – of seriously ill children to the steps of Parliament in a powerful call for sustained government funding.
This week the charity unveiled a striking portrait of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, created entirely from the orange handprints of children under its care.
Titled Hands for Hope, the artwork is both a literal and symbolic message: the future of paediatric hospice care, the campaign suggests, is now “in the hands” of the government.
Portrait with a plea
The artwork was revealed outside the Houses of Parliament as part of a national campaign urging ministers to secure long-term financial support for children’s hospices.
Acorns, which supports families across the West Midlands at its sites in Birmingham, Walsall, and Worcester, said it is facing the most critical financial threat in its 37-year history.
Trevor Johnson, chief executive of Acorns, said the charity had no choice but to take an “emotional step” in the face of uncertain government backing.
“There is genuine concern we may have to make heart-breaking decisions, which is why we’ve taken this emotional step,” he said.
“We need the government to act now so children and families don’t worry that the care they deserve is going to be lost.”
Funding in jeopardy
The hospice currently receives £2.2 million annually from the Children’s Hospice Grant – a key source of income set to run out in eight months.
Without it, Johnson warned, Acorns may be forced to turn away a child for the first time in its history.
While the government did announce in December that £100 million would be allocated over two years to end-of-life care across England, Acorns and other providers say this support is not sufficient or secure enough to guarantee continuity of services.
“We will have to cut services without this funding,” Johnson stressed.
“Our message to the Prime Minister and the government is simple – it’s now in your hands who has the power to ensure that all children’s hospices, including Acorns, receive long-term sustainable funding.”
Lives in the balance
The hospice movement plays a vital role in supporting children with life-limiting conditions and their families, offering respite, palliative care, and bereavement services. Acorns supports hundreds of children and families each year, many of whom rely on it for day-to-day support, medical care, and comfort at the most difficult times in their lives.
Without government intervention, the ripple effect of lost services could be felt across the NHS, social care, and bereaved communities. Hospices like Acorns help relieve pressure on the health system, while offering holistic support that statutory providers cannot easily replicate.
A message for Starmer
The use of children’s handprints to create the Prime Minister’s likeness was a deliberate decision, designed to humanise the policy debate and highlight the real lives behind funding figures.
The campaign has drawn widespread attention on social media, with many praising the symbolic power of the piece. Johnson said the charity is hopeful that its message will be heard at the highest levels.
“This isn’t just about Acorns – it’s about every child and family in the country who needs this kind of support,” he said. “These are some of the most vulnerable children in the UK. They need more than words. They need commitment. And they need certainty.”
Whether the Prime Minister will respond remains to be seen, but the image of dozens of tiny hands forming the face of the country’s leader has delivered its message: time is running out, and children’s care must not be allowed to fade away.
