There are now 25 residential children's hospices in the UK, with 15 more planned. Acorns Selly Oak was the third in the world when it was opened in 1988. They opened their second hospice, Acorns Walsall, in 1999.
Acorns has helped more than 900 families in the past 14 years. They care for children who are unlikely to reach adulthood, and offer support to their families.
The competition is open to anyone living within the three counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire and there are two catagories - adults and children under 16.
We have two prizes for each category - book tokens kindly donated by The Paperback Exchange in Hereford and Fagins Bookshop in Kidderminster of £25 for the winner and £15 for the runner-up.
Poems can be about anything and you can include a dedication to someone special if you like. All entries will be considered for inclusion into our book of poems which will be published and sold in aid of the Acorn Children's Hospice Three Counties Appeal.
This book will be on sale by the beginning of June and the judges include Mike George from BBC Hereford and Worcester, playwright and poet Kate Shaw, Sadie Lewis whose child was cared for by Acorns and Mike Cartledge, Project Manager of Acorns Children's Hospice Trust.
Entries can be sent by post to: Acorns Poetry Competition BBC Hereford and Worcester Hylton Road Worcester WR2 5WW
