The Southport tragedy One Year On will be marked on Tuesday 29th July 2025 with a three minutes’ silence from 3pm to remember Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven; Bebe King, aged six, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, aged nine as well as all those injured and affected.
People are being invited to make a positive difference by making donations through local community appeals (details below), instead of leaving flowers.
Flowers should not be left at either Hart Street or any school settings.
Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marrion Atkinson and Chief Executive Phil Porter have today issued an Open Letter to people containing guidance and suggestions as they praised the community for their compassion which has been “a source of comfort to all affected through their darkest days”.
They said: “Let us continue to honour the lives of Alice, Bebe, and Elsie not only through remembrance, but by holding on to the values they embodied – joy, creativity, kindness, and love.”
Sefton colleagues have been working with faith and community leaders to identify local spaces where you can go to pay tribute, whether this be to say a prayer, light a candle, speak to someone or quietly reflect in a way that feels right for you.
Flags will also be lowered to half-mast on all public buildings.
The Open Letter says:
As we approach July 29th, 2025, we know people have questions about how to remember everyone directly affected by the events of last summer.
Your compassion has been a source of comfort to all affected through their darkest days. The shared grief, countless acts of kindness and especially the commitment to honouring the memory of Alice, Bebe, and Elsie have meant more than words can express.
This period is incredibly hard for the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and all of those children and adults injured or who suffered lifelong psychological impact of witnessing the attack, and we acknowledge the huge impact on their lives too. We must not forget the local people who rushed to support and to our emergency responders. They all remain always in our thoughts.
It is the solidarity you showed as a community which will again shine bright in the coming weeks, and we want everyone to know there has been an incredible amount of consideration, thought and planning given to how we all mark July 29th, 2025.
In respect of this deeply personal time, we ask that no floral tributes be laid at either Hart Street or at school settings.
Instead we are encouraging people to consider donating to local causes such as
Elsie’s Story – Elsie’s Story | Creating Smiles. Cherishing Memories. Spreading Hope.
Bebe’s Hive – Bebe’s Hive CIC 💛 🐝 – JustGiving
Hope’s Help – Fundraiser by Samantha Foster : Hope’s Help
Alice’s Wonderdance – (4) Instagram
The Southport Hesketh Round Table – Fundraiser by Southport Hesketh Round Table : Helping the Southport Families After 29th July 2024 Attack
The Southport Stronger Together Appeal – Southport Strong Together Appeal – JustGiving
North West Air Ambulance – Home | North West Air Ambulance Charity
in lieu of floral tributes.
There will also be a three minutes silence at 3pm on Tuesday 29th July 2025, which will be recognised by the Council and other public bodies and we ask everyone to join with us, wherever you may be.
We fully understand that many of us still need to grieve and to mark the day. Our colleagues have been working with faith and community leaders to identify local spaces where you can go, within your neighbourhood, to pay tribute, whether this be to say a prayer, light a candle, speak to someone or quietly reflect in a way that feels right for you.
Flags will also be lowered to half-mast on all public buildings in Sefton and across the Liverpool City Region as neighbouring authorities and partners remember with us.
As always, support remains available to anyone affected by the events of last July and people will be available at the various local reflective spaces to offer help and guidance to anyone who may need it.
You can access support by visiting www.sefton.gov.uk/southporttogether
Let us continue to honour the lives of Alice, Bebe, and Elsie not only through remembrance, but by holding on to the values they embodied – joy, creativity, kindness, and love.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yours faithfully
Sefton Council Leader Cllr Marrion Atkinson
Sefton Council Chief Executive Phil Porter
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