SOUTHPORT & Birkdale Sports Club and Southport Rugby Club are teaming up to support 2 charities rooted at the heart of the Southport community in 2026 - Elsie’s Story and Southport Soup Kitchen.

While their missions differ, both organisations share a common purpose — offering care, compassion, and practical support to children, families, and vulnerable individuals when they need it most.

2 of Southport’s longest established sports clubs will host a year of unforgettable fundraising activities, with many opportunities for people to get involved.

You could take part in the Southport Colour Run; attend a Charity Dinner; or support the Elsie’s Story Charity Football Match, with more exciting events to be announced.

There will be individual initiatives happening too, with 2 players already committed to running fundraising marathons.

Both S&B and Southport Rugby Club want to achieve meaningful local impact, directing support to vulnerable people through 2 good causes with a very strong community connection.

This is a huge year for Southport with visitors from around the world flying in for The Open golf championship at Royal Birkdale, with 4 major new events including Lightport, Cristal Palace, the Big Top Festival and Books Alive.

Work is also due to begin on the restoration of Southport Pier and the construction of the new Town Hall Gardens as the town’s regeneration continues.

S&B and Southport Rugby Club will ensure 2026 is a momentous year as the local community comes together too.

Elsie’s Story is a charitable trust established in memory of Elsie Dot Stancombe, a 7-year-old girl tragically killed in the Southport attack in July 2024. Founded by her family, the charity seeks to transform loss into positive change by continuing Elsie’s legacy of kindness, joy, and compassion.

The charity’s guiding mission is to “turn heartbreak into hope”.

Southport Soup Kitchen is a long-standing local charity, established around 2002, and has been supporting the community for over 20 years. It is run entirely by volunteers and has no paid staff.

The soup kitchen supports vulnerable individuals and families by providing: free hot meals and drinks, food parcels, plus essential items such as toiletries, hats and gloves.

Throughout 2026, S&B and Southport Rugby Club aim to:-

●     Raise sustainable financial support for both charities

●     Increase awareness of their work

●     Encourage community participation and engagement

Funds raised will be shared between both charities to ensure balanced and meaningful impact.

Local businesses are welcome to get involved in a variety of ways.

These could include business sponsorships, workplace fundraising activities, or even donation matching where available.

Southport Rugby Club Chair Enda Rylands said:- “Southport Rugby Club has a proud history of fundraising in the community. The level of support all members have historically shown to our endeavours is a testament of the culture and sense of community that exists at the club. From our amazing Ellis Expedition which involved all members and raised over £30,00 for the NHS to our continued support for charities such as MND and Woodenspoon, the commitment of our members and their families has been tremendous. We also have our now annual Colour Run which last year raised over £6,000 for Elsie's Story and will once again support Elsie's Story when it spreads colours of joy and emotion in June this year, an event not to be missed. We are delighted to partner with S&B Sports Club for this year and raise funds for two amazing charities. We will be encouraging all members to create and support fundraising ideas throughout the year and sharing great experiences with our friends at S&B.”

Southport & Birkdale Sports Club Chair David Salt said:- “Southport & Birkdale Sports Club are delighted to be partnering with Elsie’s Story and Southport Soup Kitchen as our charity partners for 2026. This new initiative reflects the Club’s commitment to supporting the Southport community and the organisations that do so much within it. Elsie and her family have shared many happy memories at the Club over the years, and we are honoured to support the charity established in her memory. Alongside this, Southport Soup Kitchen provides vital support to those in need across the town, and we are proud to support their ongoing work in offering warmth, dignity, and care to the local community. As part of this partnership, the Club will host a charity dinner in May within our marquee, bringing members and supporters together for a special evening in aid of both charities. We are also thrilled to be joining forces with Southport Rugby Club across a range of initiatives throughout 2026, uniting 2 sporting communities to raise funds, awareness, and support for 2 exceptional local causes.”

For more details about Elsie’s Story, visit this link. 

If you want to find out more about Southport Soup Kitchen, follow this link.