Trevor Johnson has joined Acorns Children’s Hospice this week, as the charity’s new Chief Executive. Mr Johnson, who was previously CEO of Katharine House Hospice in Oxfordshire, replaces previous CEO Toby Porter, who stepped down in September 2022 after six years at the helm.

Speaking of the appointment, Matt Bullock, Acorns Director of People and Culture, and interim CEO, said: “We are delighted to welcome Trevor to the charity – someone we know brings with them a wealth of knowledge and experience from within the children’s palliative care and charity sectors.

"This is an exciting time for Acorns and my fellow Executive Directors and I are looking forward to working closely with Trevor to set out the priorities for Acorns as we enter the second year of our three-year strategy, For Any Child.”

Acorns, which opened its first hospice in Birmingham in 1988, provides specialist palliative care to babies, children and young people across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire. In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 700 children and supported more than 900 families, including the bereaved.

Speaking of his appointment, Trevor said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be appointed Chief Executive of Acorns, a charity which delivers such vital care and support to hundreds of children and families across the region every year. As someone who is very familiar with the hospice sector, I’m excited to be leading Acorns and helping the charity as it works towards its ambition to reach even more families with the care they need.

“Acorns is a place where families can build memories and encounter support they often didn’t even know was there, at a time when they need it most. It’s an honour to join an organisation so rooted in my community, and I’m very much looking forward to working with the fantastic teams across the charity to take Acorns forward over the coming years.”

Acorns Children's Hospice provides vital care and support to children and families in the West Midlands and beyond. With three hospices located in Birmingham, Worcester, and Walsall, the charity is dedicated to ensuring that every child and family can access the care and support they need.