ACORNS Children's Hospice has received a prestigious UNICEF award for its work to protect children's rights.

The Wythall-based charity began its partnership with UNICEF in 2019 and received a bronze award after becoming the first non-school organisation to join its Rights Respecting Award programme.

Now Acorns has become the first hospice to win a silver award.

Emma Aspinall, director of care at Acorns, said: “Children and families have always been at the centre of everything we do at Acorns, so we are both thrilled and incredibly proud to become the first hospice in the UK to receive recognition from such an esteemed organisation at this level.

“It is our aim is for all Acorns care teams and care volunteers to understand the Convention for the Rights of the Child, and that Acorns services and responses to our young people are synonymous with these rights.”

In their review, UNICEF assessors remarked how ‘there is clear communication and a shared vision for children’s rights to underpin everything Acorns does’.

Emma added: “This report recognises the hard work and incredible efforts of everyone at Acorns to ensure that we are ambassadors for Children’s Rights in all we do.

Last month Jack Grealish organised for several families supported by the hospice to experience a day out at the Etihad when he plays his former club.