Bradley Thomas has helped to secure the extension of vital funding for children’s hospices.
Following lobbying efforts by Bradley and hospices in England, the Government has confirmed hospices for children and young people will receive a further £26 million revenue funding for 2025/26.
Ahead of this announcement, Acorns Children’s Hospice, which is headquartered in Wythall, warned that, for the first time in the charity’s history, they would have to turn away children in need if vital Government funding did not continue.
That’s why Bradley wrote to the Chancellor ahead of the Budget and attended a parliamentary debate on funding for children’s hospices where he backed Acorns’ fight for continued funding.
However, although funding for 2025/26 has been confirmed, the Government has failed to guarantee the funding for at least five years and increase it by the rate of inflation every year as Bradley and hospices had called for.
Bradley said:
“Whilst I of course welcome this funding for children’s hospices, it’s disappointing the Government has not guaranteed it for at least five years and increased it by the rate of inflation as hospices like Acorns had asked for.
“I will continue to work with Acorns and the hospice sector to ensure they receive the long-term funding they to enable them to be there for every child and family who needs them.”
