Southport victims remembered on first anniversary of attack

It's 12 months since a devastating knife attack claimed the lives of three young girls at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport.

The incident left the country in shock and mourning - but out of respect for the families at the heart of this unimaginable tragedy, we will not be recapping the events of that day, nor will we mention the name of the attacker.

Instead, we choose to focus on the positive legacies left behind by nine year old Alice Da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, six, and seven year old Elsie Dot Stancombe.

Marking one year...

Community and faith spaces across Southport are open for moments of reflection, flags will be flown at half mast on public buildings, and Sefton Council is inviting people to observe a 3 minute silence at 3pm, from wherever they may be.

Support remains available to anyone affected by the events of last summer. Click here for more.

Fundraising for good

Since the 29th July 2024, the girls have served as the inspiration for hundreds of fundraisers and good deeds across the country; raising thousands of pounds for charities and worthy causes. They've been the reason that countless people have pushed themselves out of their comfort zones to take part in challenges, including marathons and sky dives.

Elsie's Story

Elsie's parents founded Elsie's Story to bring 'joy and support to children facing life's toughest challenges'. The charity aims to improve the lives of young people through memory-making days, care grants, and community-led kindness.

Speaking at the Liverpool Half Marathon in March 2025, where 240 runners pounded the pavements in aid of the charity, Jenni Stancombe told us: "We started the charity early because it felt right. Elsie wanted to raise money herself, she had a charitable and loving nature. It's helping us to turn some heartbreak into hope and it's bringing some joy to other children off the back of something awful that happened.

"The charity was initially founded to make grants in Elsie's name and to support young children within communities. This will include funding local projects, providing medical care, individual support and funding projects that will bring love and joy to communities.

"The messages that people sent us at the start really comforted us in our darkest days, and that comfort and support has continued through Elsie's Story. Through people fundraising and emailing us, that gives me drive and makes me realise that we can do something really truly amazing."

Pulling together

In June, the head teachers at Elsie's school jumped 15,000ft from a plane, in aid of Elsie's Story. Jennifer Sephton and Adrian Antell (pictured) lead Farnborough Road Infants and Farnborough Road Juniors Schools, respectively.

Mr Antell told us: "I think it's really important for us to build a positive legacy around Elsie. What we've found in the last year is that something terrible happened to this community and what we've learned is that people are very kind and want to do positive things. So we want to support Elsie's Story, who have wonderful ideas to build a positive legacy in this community in memory of Elsie, and we want to show our wholehearted support for that."

Their skydive fundraiser raised more than £25,000.

Bebe's Hive

Bebe's Hive was launched by her family as a 'grief informed, creative support project for children and families. The aim of the charity is to create a safe space for young people who are facing bereavement to heal.

The charity's page says: "Bebe’s Hive will offer free sessions using art, music, play, and storytelling to help children explore grief safely and gently. Led by a team of educators, creatives, and wellbeing practitioners - all who knew and loved Bebe. It will be a space full of care and hope.

"At its heart, Bebe’s Hive reflects who Bebe was: warm, inclusive, curious, and endlessly creative. Every part of what we’re building carries her kindness and her spark."

The charity's JustGiving page has raised more than £40,000 to date.

Bebe's family posted a heartfelt tribute to their little girl on Instagram earlier this week, quoting her favourite film, Wicked: "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

Alice's Legacy

Alice's dad Sergio has been an active fundraiser in memory of his daughter since her passing. He ran the London Marathon in April 2025, shortly after completing the Liverpool Half Marathon in March, to raise funds for a new playground at Churchtown Primary school, where both Alice and Bebe were pupils.

In the last week, construction work has begun and it's hoped the playground will be complete by the time children return to school in the winter term of 2025.

Speaking to us in Liverpool, Sergio said: "I feel Alice is with me all of the time. I imagine in my mind that she holds my hand over the finish line.

"Her school was her second home where she spent most of the time, so we're doing the playground in her name for her friends to enjoy it. There will be a stage within the playground because she liked performing, dance and ballet.

"Southport as a community has been amazing with us and I've not got the words to describe the support we have had."

The fundraising page raised more than £340,000 for the playground project, and any left over funds will go to local charities which have supported Southport's recovery.

A town rebuilding

The impact of what happened in Southport last year is felt daily - both by the families who lost loved ones, and those who were injured and survived.

It continues to cause unimaginable pain and heartache, which was conveyed in the honest and raw accounts of four families during the first of the Southport Inquiry hearings in July; 365 days may have passed, but the gravity and enormity of what they experienced is yet to be fully realised.

We will hear from other survivor families when the hearings resume in September.

Listen:

Below, you can listen to the documentary we published in January 2025 - 'Southport Attack: A town rebuilding'. The audio looks back at the community spirit which flourished in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

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