Just a month after the joy and celebration of MWOTY 2024, an unthinkable tragedy unfolded when three young girls from Southport – Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine – were killed in a horrific knife attack that shook not just our community, but the whole of the UK.
Five children and two adults were also seriously injured in the attack, which took place at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance workshop. As an organisation that celebrates and supports the success and potential of all women in our region, we are heartbroken to see three beautiful girls taken far too soon, and our thoughts remain with their families, those who were injured in or witnessed the attack, their families, friends and the wider Southport community.
We were also horrified to see how this tragedy was weaponised and how violence towards ethnic and religious minorities and migrant communities escalated in the wake of the attack, due to disinformation spread online.
Out of all this, though, our community stood strong, showed its humanity and has pulled together. People were looking for ways to help, to channel anger and grief into something positive and peaceful, as demonstrated by Southport’s beautiful vigil in the days following and acts of kindness shown by its local residents.
The Southport Strong Together Appeal, led by the Community Foundation for Merseyside in partnership with Sefton Council and Sefton CVS, harnessed this sense of community and give people a way to help and, at time of writing, has raised more than £137,000 to help the children and adults directly involved in the attack, their loved ones and support the wider community as it heals from this tragedy.
A further initiative, a Family Fun Day For Local Hospitals and North West Air Ambulance on Sunday 1st September at Southport Pleasureland, will raise money for the emergency services and local hospitals that bravely responded to the tragedy.
At MWOTY we believe that we are always stronger together. We will be doing what we can to support those affected over the coming months and hope we can help create some good from evil. We will keep you updated on plans as they unfold.
Kindness, togetherness and community will not change the devastating events of Monday 29th July, but we believe it can help to heal.
To support the Southport Strong Together Appeal, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/southport-strong-together
Image: Merseyside Police
