By Queenscourt Crime Correspondent Andrew Brown
A Southport childcare provider whose Mum was cared for by Queenscourt last year would love people to support her fundraising efforts for the hospice after signing up for this year’s Jail and Bail.
Fran Taylor, who runs The Frantastic Pre-School, wis among a dozen kind-hearted ‘inmates’ who will be ‘sentenced’ for their ‘crimes’ at the former Southport Magistrates Court (now Access Point); ‘jailed’ at Southport Police Station on Friday, 7th June 2024 before being set a series of fun challenges to raise a minimum of £999 ‘bail’ money before they are released.
Fran, who was born on Christmas Day, will see every penny raised going towards supporting the ongoing work of Queenscourt Hospice, in a fundraiser organised by the hospice and by Stand Up For Southport.
You can support Fran via her JustGiving page here: Fran Taylor is fundraising for Queenscourt Hospice (justgiving.com)
Fran Taylor, 57, said: “I lost my Mum, Pamela Usher, on 29th December. She was 84.
“She had a lot of support from the team at Queenscourt Hospice.
“The nurses who came in from there to look after Mum were really caring, really compassionate. They were superb.
“Mum was only ill for seven weeks from start to finish. It all happened very quickly.
“I wished we had so much more time.
“To be able to keep my Mum at home during her final weeks was everything our family wanted.
“The nurses from Queenscourt supported us to be able to do that.
“They came to our house with the need that Mum needed; they came with everything else she needed.
“Mum was really ill during December, coming up to my birthday, which is on Christmas Day.
“Mum and I would joke and I said to her ‘please don’t die on my birthday’ to which she laughed and replied ‘can I go the day before or the day after’?
“On Christmas morning, Mum woke up, looked at me and said ‘I made it’.
“It was a Godsend to be able to phone Queenscourt when we needed to, to talk to someone and to say ‘I am worried today’, and they were always there for us.
Fran Taylor, owner of Frantastic, is joining the Jail and Bail challenge for Queenscourt Hospice.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“I signed up to take part in Jail and Bail because I just wanted to do something to give back and say ‘thank you’ to Queenscourt.
“I hope people sponsor me and support me to do that!
“Taking part in Jail and Bail has given me something else to focus on.
“My Mum had a great sense of humour. She would have been laughing watching me do this!
“I am really excited to be taking part in Jail and Bail, I can’t wait to find out what we’ll have to face.
“I am really grateful for the support I’ve had from people so far.
“My husband, Mick Taylor, has pledged £50 to keep me in!
“I’d like to thank my team at Frantastic because without their support, I wouldn’t be able to take on this challenge. Some of them have been working with me for the past 20 years, they’re just amazing.”
Fran is the owner and manager of Frantastic, which has been operating in Southport for over 20 years.
It is where education, care and play go hand in hand.
Fran’s aim is to provide high quality affordable and reliable childcare in a safe, friendly and stimulating environment where children can play, learn and develop freely.
Starting from its first location at Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Frantastic has grown and become a ‘fun whilst learning’ orientated organisation which now operates at three separate locations across Southport with the Frantastic Pre-School @ Mornington Road being the newest setting.
Fran is a Mum of four children, aged 40, 38, 32 and 30; a Nan of 11 and a Great Nan of a two-year-old!
She has a habit of raising eyebrows with her random acts of kindness, leaving money for strangers who need support and looking out for those in need.
Fran Taylor, owner of Frantastic, is joining the Jail and Bail challenge for Queenscourt Hospice.
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Her Jail and Bail crime will be ‘shaming saints’.
Fran said: “It’s all about helping people during really tough times.
“Life is tough for people at the moment.
“With the cost of living and everything else at the moment, I don’t know how some people manage.
“I always like to help wherever I can.I love to try and give people something back.
“We all need someone there sometimes to give people reasons to smile again.”
Fran Taylor, owner of Frantastic, is joining the Jail and Bail challenge for Queenscourt Hospice.
Fran Taylor is pictured with Mike Paton, Frans granddaughters Lara Taylor and Dollie Taylor, and great granddaughter Ivy Taylor
Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Every penny raised through Jail & Bail will go towards Queenscourt Hospice, which provides care and support for residents across West Lancashire, Southport and Formby, 365 days a year.
Queenscourt is staging this brand new fundraiser in collaboration with Stand Up For Southport 10am-3pm on Friday, 7th June 2023 at Access Point, based inside the former Southport Magistrates’ Court building, on Albert Road in Southport.
A handful of other local ‘criminals’ have already had their collars felt – organisers are looking forward to bringing them together in June as a ‘chain gang’.
Several local businesses are supporting the initiative on the day.
Queenscourt Hospice provides access to specialist palliative care either at home (including care homes), hospital or in Queenscourt via the Inpatient Unit or as an Outpatient.
- Please donate to Fran Taylor’s Frantastic fundraising page at:Fran Taylor is fundraising for Queenscourt Hospice (justgiving.com)
- For more details or to register your interest please email Queenscourt Hospice Fundraising Manager Liz Hartley at: [email protected] or email: Stand Up For Southport owner Andrew Brown at: [email protected]
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