Shazia Mirza amused guests at a gala East Meets West fundraising event, held to raise awareness of and vital funds for Acorns Children's Hospice.

Invited guests celebrated the wide mix of cultures that live alongside each other in Birmingham through a showcase of food, fashion, music, dancing and comedy.

ITV Central newsreader, Sameena Ali-Khan hosted the event which took place on Saturday 6th June at the CSN International Exhibition and Conference Centre on Highgate Road, Birmingham.

Louise Arnold, head of Social Responsibility Development at Acorns, said: “East Meets West was a fantastic evening highlighting the essential care and support Acorns provides to every community and helped to raise vital funds we need to continue our work.

“The children and families, staff and volunteers at Acorns come from a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds. We work hard to ensure we respect and meet their different and individual needs as part of our provision of specialist palliative care.”

Acorns provides babies, children and young people aged 0 – 18 years who have life limiting or life threatening conditions and associated complex needs with a network of specialist palliative nursing care and support.

The charity provides short break provision; emergency and end of life care; therapeutic and psychosocial support; sibling services; and family support at its three hospices across the West Midlands and in the home. For more information visit www.acorns.org.uk