Fundraisers step up to help save Queenscourt Hospice

QUEENSCOURT Hospice is a local charity that provides support for the people of:- West Lancashire, Southport and Formby. A spectacular fundraising night for Queenscourt Hospice will light up Southport this summer, with everyone invited to come together and get involved.

This week, Queenscourt Hospice announced the devastating news that it may have to close in 18 months unless it can raise enough funds as it battles a �2 million deficit. The hospice is already reducing its inpatient ward from:- 10 to 5 beds, as it continues to face financial uncertainty. More services could be lost soon.

Queenscourt has provided compassionate care for over:- 70,000 local families across:- Southport, Formby and West Lancashire since it opened its doors 35 years ago. With the hospice now facing what has been described as the toughest financial challenge in its history, it has recently confirmed that, due to financial pressures, several redundancies have been made and the number of available beds will be reduced, an alarming development for such a critical community service.

In order to bring in the critical funds, many local fundraisers are pulling out all the stops to help our community save this important facility. Some of those who deserve recognition include:- Helen Hible, Ali Cross, Katharine Perry, Mari Lewis & Jules McSloy, who are all members of the Southport Strollers, a dedicated local running club. On Friday, 3 April 2026, the Strollers undertook an extraordinary challenge, a 50 mile Ultra Marathon. This remarkable effort to raise vital funds for Queenscourt Hospice started at:- 6am, from:- Salford Quays, Manchester and finished in Aintree, Liverpool. Their 50 mile ultra-marathon was not only a test of endurance but also a heartfelt effort to raise awareness of the situation and to ensure that Queenscourt Hospice can continue its essential work for the local community.

Queenscourt Hospice said after the completion of the endurance event that:- "This was 1 of many this inspiring initiatives being carried out by the wider community to help us to continue offering invaluable support to patients and their families during the most difficult times. We are incredibly grateful to their fundraising efforts. They really did step forward to help us!"

As part of the ongoing fundraising, the charity is to host a:- 'Grand Night Out For Queenscourt' which will see them taking over all 3 floors of The Grand, on Lord Street, on:- Friday, 24 July 2026. This unforgettable community event will see some amazing names headlining, along with some talented local singers, musicians and DJs. The event will be hosted by In Demand Radio presenter:- Claire Simmo, with other local acts including:- Kelly Bond, Bazz Todd and many more.

Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail said:- "As a family run business which operates in Southport, we are as devastated as anyone to hear the news that our local hospice is having to cut core services, and could have to close completely. We all know how much Queenscourt means, and the vital role it provides. Everyone in our community has been touched in some way by the incredible care that Queenscourt provides. We simply cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We have seen the huge shock and the reaction from local families who want a way of rallying behind the charity. We have acted urgently and have liaised with Queenscourt to offer all 3 floors of The Grand, creating a truly spectacular night of entertainment, the likes of which we�ve never seen before."

Andrew continued:- "We're in talks with some exciting names, watch this space, with some big announcements coming soon. All 3 floors will be packed with live entertainment, and we�re very grateful to all the local performers who have already reached out to us and are very eager to come and be part of something very special. We need everyone in our community to come out and support this 1! Tickets will be �25 each and will be on sale via The Grand website from:- Saturday, 11 April 2026. We look forward to seeing you all there. We all need to come together and make this happen."

Queenscourt Hospice Fundraising Manager Liz Hartley said:- "We're really looking forward to this grand fundraising night for Queenscourt Hospice. It promises to be a fantastic event across all three floors of The Grand in Southport. We�d love to see lots of people coming to enjoy an entertainment-packed evening, while helping us to raise funds to Keep Queenscourt In Service. We�re very grateful to Andrew Mikhail and Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group for their huge support for Queenscourt."

If you are interested in taking part in A Grand Night Out For Queenscourt, please email Jeanette Gordon, at The Grand Southport, via:- Jeanette.Gordon@MHALG.Com.

For more information on how you can help Queenscourt Hospice and for information about other events, please go to:- Queenscourt.Org.UK. If you can help make a significant difference or even a small difference in the charity's fundraising efforts, please do so!

�600,000 YES fund opens for 2026 - building on 2 years of major impact for young people across Merseyside

COMMUNITY groups and grassroots organisations are being invited to apply for a share of:- �600,000, as the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES Fund) officially reopens for 2026, offering funding for projects focused on preventing serious violence by creating brighter futures for young people across Merseyside.

Jointly delivered by Merseyside Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership (MVRP), the YES Fund provides grants of:- �5,000 to �25,000, for initiatives that give young people safe, positive opportunities and help steer them away from violence, exploitation, and anti social behaviour.

Launched in 2024, this year's huge cash investment follows an exceptional 2 years for YES, with more than:- �1 million invested and nearly 25,000 young people supported across Merseyside.

Now, the PCC and MVRP are building on that momentum by opening the YES Fund for a 3rd year.

They are inviting community groups, charities and 3rd sector organisations to submit bids for projects supporting young people under 25, from skills and qualifications to confidence building, mentoring and programmes that help them make positive choices for the future.

Projects can run throughout the year, with a focus on times when issues can traditionally increase, such as:- during the summer holidays, autumn half term, Halloween and Bonfire Night, when young people are not in School and there may be little for them to do.

Funding will be targeted in areas of Merseyside that have experienced the highest levels of violence and the biggest cuts to youth services, with the aim of keeping young people safe and supported and helping to steer them away from trouble.

Last year's investment was used to run a wide variety of initiatives focused on reaching and supporting young people. This included:- youth workers going out in hotspot areas, to mental health courses and leadership training, forest School activities, free sports coaching and more.

Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- �Over the past 2 years, the YES Fund has shown just how powerful early intervention can be. Thousands of young people have benefited from sport, arts, digital skills, mentoring and wellbeing support; all delivered by the incredible grassroots organisations which know their communities best. The Yes Fund has already helped to create even more safe spaces and positive pathways for young people right across Merseyside, offering them an amazing array of activities and opportunities across our Region, all focused on keeping them safe and preventing them from getting drawn into dangerous or harmful behaviour. Investing in prevention and early intervention is essential if we are to reduce serious violence in our communities. With another:- �600,000 available for 2026, we want to go even further. We're calling on our brilliant local charities, youth groups and community organisations to bring forward their ideas and help us continue building safer, brighter futures for our young people."

The YES Fund will once again be administered by the Community Foundation for Merseyside (CfM) which holds funds from individuals and organisations as donors who wish to support deserving causes in Merseyside.

James Proctor, Programme Director, Community Foundation for Merseyside said:- �The YES Fund is a fantastic funding opportunity to support our local grassroots community organisations and their engagement work with young people. It is so important to recognise and support the valuable community projects delivered throughout the year, including:- key periods such as:- the summer School holidays and Autumn half-term period, which allow young people to get involved in sporting, cultural, digital, educational and crucially, fun activities which keeps them safe and helps to both reduce and prevent violence and anti social behaviour"

All applications must be submitted online via the Community Foundation for Merseyside by:- 4pm on:- Friday, 1 May 2026.

Please visit:- CFMerseyside.Org.UK to apply to the Youth Empowerment Scheme, CFM

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Fundraisers step up to help save Queenscourt Hospice

�600,000 YES fund opens for 2026 - building on 2 years of major impact for young people across Merseyside