Over £11,000 has been raised for local charities through a range of Christmas activities organised by Southport BID.
Southport BID, which works on behalf of businesses in the town centre, welcomed thousands of visitors as they enjoyed a Santa’s Grotto, a Frozen themed Grotto, Christmas carriage rides, a Gingerbread Trail, an Illustrate Illuminate Trail, elf parties, and a Festive Fun Day.
They also provided a dazzling 18-metre high Christmas tree in the Town hall Gardens, which sparkled with mesmerising colour-changing displays thanks to 25,000 LED pixels.
Festive decorations were also placed throughout the town centre, adding to the 300,000 lights which Southport BID installed along both sides of the Lord Street shopping boulevard in 2021.
The range of festive activities brought thousands of people into town throughout November, December and January, giving a welcome boost to local businesses during the busy festive period.
People of all ages were able to enjoy their experience of Christmas shopping in Southport with all the fun provided accessible for all.
While some of the activities were free, donations were invited for Santa’s Grotto, the Frozen Grotto, the elf parties and the Christmas carriage rides, with all the money raised now being used locally for good.
The Southport Gingerbread Trail and the Illustrate Illuminate Trail were both free, with prizes given to the winners.
The Festive Fun Day was the perfect opportunity for the community to come together with lots of talented local groups and performers bringing real festive spirit to Southport.
Dan Taylor the newly appointed Chairman of BID said:
“Through funds raised from Christmas activities in Southport, the BID business community has donated £11,000 to local charities The Southport Lions Club, Southport Lifeboat and Queenscourt Hospice.
“The activities not only brought thousands of visitors to town, but the proceeds will now be reinvested locally by these charities to better our community.
“The festive activities we organised this year were a huge success, very popular with people.
“The Christmas Carriage Rides, Elf Parties, as well as the two Grotto’s all sold out.
“These activities were on top of free things to enjoy including our Southport Gingerbread Trail and the Illustrate Illuminate and the Festive Fun Day.
“We would like to give special thanks to the volunteers from the Southport Lions Club for their partnership in providing the Santa’s Grotto experience for families.”
Queenscourt Hospice, which provides compassionate care across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire, is one of the charities which will benefit.
Liz Hartley, Fundraising Manager at Queenscourt Hospice said: “Queenscourt Hospice has been providing exceptional palliative care for patients and their loved ones for over thirty years now, thanks to the support of our wider community.
“With rising costs and an increasing need for our services, this ongoing support is essential to help keep Queenscourt in Service. We are therefore deeply grateful to have been chosen by Southport BID to benefit from their Christmas events fundraising. This generous support will make all the difference to our hospice so that we can continue providing compassionate care when it is needed the most.
“Thank you so much to Southport BID and everyone involved in raising this money.”
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