Sutton Coldfield charity shop crowned West Midlands' 'favourite' shop after surpassing 6,500 nominations

The Acorns Children’s Hospice shop in Mere Green has been named the favourite charity shop in the West Midlands, leaving its staff and volunteers overjoyed.

The shop emerged victorious in the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Awards, which saw 6,500 nominations and thousands of public votes.

The shop was recognised for its friendly and dedicated staff, quality items, sustainability, and its crucial role in raising funds for seriously ill children in the region.

Nicky Hales, the shop’s manager, expressed immense pride in the team, attributing the win to their friendliness and dedication.

She said, “I cannot tell you how proud the team feels. I work with a fantastic group of people and it’s their friendliness and dedication that has led to this amazing award. We’re absolutely elated to have been crowned as winners. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, and to our loyal customers and volunteers who give their time to make sure we succeed and can fund lifeline care and support for the children and families who desperately need us.”

Volunteer Sheryl Bolden highlighted the shop’s strong community ties and the passionate commitment of its customer base.

She emphasised the rewarding nature of seeing the positive impact of Acorns’ work in the community. “We are a community charity shop, and we’ve got such a committed and loyal customer base. We are all so passionate about our shop being on the map. It’s such an amazing community, and the team here are like family,” she said. “To see all the incredible work done by Acorns in the community is so rewarding.”

The Mere Green branch, located in Sutton Coldfield, is one of nearly 50 Acorns shops across the West Midlands. These shops play a vital role in funding the charity’s care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as supporting their families.

Gary Pettit, Acorns’ Retail Director, praised the team’s hard work and dedication, noting that the award underscores the importance of their customers in enabling the charity to provide essential care.

“What a fantastic achievement for our team. Not only does this recognise their hard work and dedication, it shows that because of our customers we can be there for children and families when they need us the most,” he said.

Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, congratulated Acorns Children’s Hospice, acknowledging the dedication of the shop’s staff and volunteers and the store’s significance to the local community.

“Huge congratulations to Acorns Children’s Hospice. This award is a testament to the dedication of the shop’s staff and volunteers, and highlights what this wonderful store means to the local community,” he said. “We have been overwhelmed by the public’s response to our search for the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop, which celebrates the contribution the sector makes to communities and good causes across the UK.”

Acorns Children’s Hospice offers specialist palliative care for children and support for their families. Over the past year, the charity has cared for more than 750 children and supported nearly 1,000 families across the West Midlands.

The charity operates three hospices in Birmingham, Walsall, and Worcester, and relies heavily on donations and fundraising to meet its daily operational costs of around £30,000.

Donate to Acorns by visiting www.acorns.org.uk/donate.

Get the latest headlines, straight to your inbox, with BirminghamWorld’s free emails