‘Wired for Good’ campaign reaches £60,000 milestone

AWi’s Tom Mander presents a cheque for £5,000 to Abigail Coulson, senior parternship fundraising manager at Acorns

Acorns Children’s Hospice has become the first charity to be recognised twice by a Black Country manufacturer’s fundraising campaign. Alloy Wire International (AWI), a leading producer of round, flat and profile wire, has donated a further £5,000 to the organisation as part of its ongoing ‘Wired for Good’ initiative, with the money helping deliver essential services to more than 780 children and over 1,000 families every year in the West Midlands. It follows a £7,500 donation three years ago and takes the total money raised by AWI for good causes to £60,000.

Tom Mander, AWI’s managing director, said: “Acorns is one of the region’s best-known charities and its work in supporting children with complex needs — across its three hospices and in the wider community — positively touches the lives of thousands of families at their lowest moments. The decision to deliver a second donation from the ‘Wired for Good’ campaign was a unanimous decision from all 33 staff at our factories in Brierley Hill and in Yorkshire.”

He continued: “This time we received a guided tour of the charity’s Worcester hospice, and it really hit home the amazing work the Acorns staff do in some of the most testing of circumstances. Despite the seriousness of the conditions of many of the children, there was a really positive atmosphere and a real sense of togetherness.”

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care to babies, children and young people with life limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as a range of practical and emotional support services for their whole family. Children visit Acorns for rehabilitative respite, symptom management, emergency and end-of-life care.

Generous donations
This care and support are provided from its three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community. The organisation needs around £35,000 every day to provide its children’s hospice care, with two-thirds of that amount coming from generous donations and fundraising by the community and local businesses like AWI.

Abigail Coulson, senior partnerships fundraising manager at Acorns Children’s Hospice, said: “We are extremely grateful to receive yet another amazing donation from AWI and we were thrilled to welcome the team to our hospice in Worcester to see first-hand how their support is changing lives.

“Without the help of generous supporters like AWI, Acorns couldn’t be there for children and families in their greatest hour of need. Donations like this mean families across our region can continue to get the specialist care they not only need but deserve. A huge thanks to everyone at AWI for choosing to give Acorns this second generous donation.”

AWI is one of the Black Country’s fastest-growing manufacturers, supplying round, flat and profile wire to a 6,000-strong global customer base. To celebrate its 75th year in business in 2021, the company launched its ‘Wired for Good’ campaign, with the aim of donating vital funds to local community groups and charities that are making a difference on the ground.

So far, this has seen the company support Mary Stevens Hospice, the Chris Westwood Charity for Children with Physical Disabilities, the Giving Hands Mission, Tough Enough to Care, Guide Dogs and Up and Downs.