St Patrick's Night 2020 in Southport

THIS is normally a big event in the Irish Community, but the pandemic definitely put a new shade of green to the fun this year. We headed out to O'Learys Irish Bar, in Southport to see what was going on if anything... The bar had a few people in and as normal it had the tradionally live entertainment. The atmosphere was fun, but deffenetly not what you would expect and as you can see, not many arrived for the nights activities. Just a few days later, on 20 March the order was passed by the Government announced that the:- "Entertainment and Hospitality premises to close temporarily and people urged to only travel if absolutely essential..." Did you celebrate St Patrick Night? If you did, please do let us now via emailing us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

The Big Give Covid-19 Emergency Appeal exceeds ₤100k in 1st 24hours

THE Big Give is today launching a match funding campaign that will raise vital income for those that have been hit hardest by the rapid spread of Covid-19, doubling the first ₤200,000 donated. Partnering with the National Emergencies Trust (NET), all donations made through The Big Give's Covid-19 Emergency Appeal will go to NET's Coronavirus Appeal, supported by media, businesses and Government. These funds will be distributed to charitable organisations and community foundations serving those affected by the Coronavirus across the country. Calling on the public to #DonateYourCommute, The Big Give is encouraging people to donate the amount they're saving on their daily travel costs if they're now working from home or whatever they can afford to give. The Big Give's Covid-19 Emergency Appeal will double the first ₤200,000 donated through its crowdfunding website (thebiggive.org.uk), with matched funding provided by the Reed Foundation and the Reed family.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Alec Reed CBE, founder of The Big Give, says:- "Never in my lifetime has the UK faced a health crisis of this breadth and scale, requiring us all to think and do things differently, rallying around our communities. The Coronavirus will have a huge impact on so many families; their lives and businesses alike. I hope that this match funding appeal will inspire those that are able to give to do so, encouraged by the concept that their donation could be doubled to support the people and communities that have been hit hardest by the virus."

The Chairman of the National Emergencies Trust, Lord Dannatt, said:- "The outbreak of Coronavirus is a global and national emergency, with many people suffering, not just from ill health but also from the economic and social impact. This is why we are delighted to be partnering with The Big Give for our Coronavirus Appeal, so people who need it can get support as quickly as possible. The launch of the matching fund campaign will provide a further boost to our donations pot and hopefully encourage people to be as generous as possible."

The Big Give is the UK's largest match funding platform, best known for its Christmas Campaign, which raised over ₤15 million for good causes across the country in just 7 days, in December 2019.

Fundraising Regulator Reg:- 1136547