By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Stand Up For Southport had worked together with the Fundraising team at Queenscourt to generate an incredible £25,704.19 for the hospice.
The huge sum was secured through Southport’s first ever Jail and Bail fundraiser.
The initiative put the fun into fundraising with 12 fantastic ‘inmates’ agreeing to take part in a series of challenges on Friday, 15th September 2023.
Volunteers included two primary school headteachers, two NHS staff members, two Queenscourt employees, a radio DJ, and local business people.
A huge thank you to: (in alphabetical order): Adrian Antell, Victoria Bradshaw, Daniel Doherty, Helen Hurst, Debbie Lawson, David Lloyd, Andrew Robertson, Robert Smallman, Kate Sutcliffe, Chetan Thakkar, Baz Todd, and Chris Upton.
Jail and Bail for Queenscourt Hospice.
Photo by Dave Brown Photography for Stand Up For Southport
It was an amazing day. We are extremely grateful to everyone who made this event happen and also to the hundreds of local people who donated to Jail and Bail, either through our JustGiving fundraising page, through collections held at participants’ places of work or schools – or in person when they were in Southport on the day!
The day began at the House Of Ivy on Lord Street, where our ‘prisoners’ met to enjoy a coffee only for Merseyside Police officers to burst in through the back door and stage a mock dawn swoop ‘arrest’.
Rob Smallman takes part in the Jail and Bail fundraiser, organised by Stand Up For Southport and Queenscourt Hospice, outside the House Of Ivy on Lord Street in Southport. Photo by Dave Brown Photography
They then led everyone away to ‘stand trial’ inside the former Southport Magistrates Court on Albert Road, now the offices for Access Point.
Sefton Police then ‘locked up’ our fundraisers in their cells at Southport Police Station.
The Cheshire Lines pub provided a fabulous lunch for everyone before they set off around town, collecting funds from kind passers-by on the way.
Jail and Bail for Queenscourt Hospice. Inmates outside The Cheshire Lines Inn.
Photo by Dave Brown Photography for Stand Up For Southport
Silcock’s Carousel was the next venue, as the Silcock family challenged them to ride the historic attraction while eating giant sticks of candy floss!
The Marine Lake Cafe was the final venue for some karaoke – as you can imagine, the singing was nothing short of criminal…
I was proud to create this event with Queenscourt Hospice because it’s such an amazing place to have in our community.
Jail and Bail for Queenscourt Hospice. At Silcock’s Carousel.
Photo by Dave Brown Photography for Stand Up For Southport
Nearly everyone in our town has been touched by the work of Queenscourt in so many ways.
People close to me have received exceptional care there, something familiar with lots of people locally. It’s a wonderful charity to support.
Stand Up For Southport and Queenscourt worked together to invite people to join this year’s fundraiser.
Dave Brown, owner of Dave Brown Photography, supported us with some magnificent pictures.
Jail and Bail for Queenscourt Hospice. Karaoke at the Marine Lake Cafe.
Photo by Dave Brown Photography for Stand Up For Southport
Stand Up For Southport then created features on each of the participants and helped them to generate publicity needed to attract donations.
Over 40,000 local people follow Stand Up For Southport through social media, with nearly 26,000 people in our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group, over 6,000 on Instagram, over 5,000 on Twitter and more elsewhere.
We had a Jail and Bail Takeover on the day of the event across all of our social media sites, which were dedicated completely to Jail and Bail fundraising.
Jail and Bail for Queenscourt Hospice. On Silcock’s Carousel.
Photo by Dave Brown Photography for Stand Up For Southport
Throughout the day there was video, picture and written coverage, as we invited people to support our fundraisers in the most colourful fundraiser Southport has seen.
The result – a jaw-dropping £25,704.19 raised for our local Queenscourt Hospice and the care it provides to local families seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Vici Bradshaw in the dock at Access Point in Southport as part of the Jail and Bail fundraiser, organised by Stand Up For Southport and Queenscourt Hospice. Photo by Dave Brown Photography
When Southport comes together as a community, this is what we can achieve.
Thank you to everyone who played your part in making this happen!
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
