Latest news with #ElsieDotStancombe
BBC News
27-05-2025
- BBC News
Southport: 'Elsie always came to school on her dad's shoulders'
The teachers of one of the girls killed in the Southport stabbings have said they remember her always smiling, and arriving at school "on her dad's shoulders".Head teachers Adrian Antell and Jennie Sephton from Farnborough Road School were describing Elsie Dot Stancombe's journey from when she arrived at the school's nursery up until the end of infants seven-year-old was one of three girls killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Merseyside town in July last year. The others were nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar and six-year-old Bebe Sephton, head teacher of Farnborough Road Infant School said Elsie was "a very charismatic young lady". "She often came to school sitting on her dad's shoulders, or walked through the gates with a big wave, and a big smile," said Ms added that Elsie was "very determined" and liked by her friends and all the was several months away from moving into Farnborough Road's junior school before she was killed by Axel Rudakubana, who was jailed for a minimum of 52 years, in learning would have been under the stewardship of Mr Antell, who said Elsie's classmates were still struggling with what happened."Every child is different and so they will all deal with it in different ways," he said."Sadly we will never get to know Elsie, but we have got to know her friends and have worked hard to support them." 'Positive legacy' Mr Antell added that the school had introduced different methods to support the children."We have had things like play therapy and support for individual children but that need can change on a daily basis, so what works today might not work in three months time."A charity has since been founded in memory of Elsie, called Elsie's month Mr Antell and Ms Sephton will be skydiving to raise money for the trust."Kindness shines through and we wanted to continue with a positive legacy so that Elsie would be remembered, and good things would happen to young people in this community," he said."We've got a huge two-day event planned. The children are going to come to school, and break every rule."We'll do the parachute jump, with the idea being that they break 15 rules, we raise £15,000 and then we jump from 15,000ft (4,572m)." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Sky News
24-05-2025
- Sky News
Southport attack victim's teachers 'don't want her to be forgotten'
The teacher of one of the Southport stabbing victims has told Sky News they "don't want her to be forgotten", 10 months after the knife attack in which she was murdered. Seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe was killed along with Bebe King, six, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar in an attack by Axel Rudakubana at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last July. Jennifer Sephton, headteacher of Farnborough Road Infant School, will be skydiving to raise funds for the Elsie's Story charitable trust, which has been set up in memory of the former pupil. "She'd been with us for four years, throughout her education," Ms Sephton told Sky News, "and we just want everybody to know Elsie's spirit." Describing Elsie as "such a determined young lady," Ms Sephton said Elsie had "a real zest for life, and a sparkle in her eye all the time." She added that Elsie's Story, which has been set up by Elsie's family, is about "continuing that legacy." In the aftermath of the July 2024 attack, the gates outside Elsie's school were lined with flowers, balloons, and cards bearing her name. Since then, memorial benches and a tree have been planted in the school grounds, providing pupils and staff with a place to "remember and reflect", Ms Sefton says. "[Elsie's death] had such an impact on all our community," the teacher said, "it's had an impact on her friends, their siblings, our school as a community and our staff." 'We want her name to live on' Ms Sephton will be joined in the skydive by Adrian Antell, headteacher at the adjoining junior school where Elsie had been due to start. "Elsie was due to come to us last September," he told Sky News, "but what we've learned about her is that she had a wonderful impact in the infant school, and we don't want her to be forgotten. "We want her name to have to live on and to be thought of in a positive way." Mr Antell said they continue to support Elsie's classmates, who joined the new school without her. "There's no instruction manual for this," he explained, "every day is different, and every day is one step at a time. "So all we can do as a school is to think about individual children and support them in the best way we can."
Western Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Southport attack survivor campaigning for round-ended kitchen knives
Leanne Lucas launched Let's Be Blunt to coincide with a national knife crime awareness week, during which the Government has also announced a new knife amnesty taking place in July. Ms Lucas said: 'The horrific events in Southport on July 29 2024 changed my life forever. The pain and heartbreak that the families involved have had to endure is unimaginable. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, died after a mass stabbing in Southport (Merseyside Police/PA) 'If I can help to ensure this doesn't happen to another family again, I will. When people ask if there is anything they can do to help me, my answer is clear and comes from the heart: swap your pointed kitchen knives for rounded ones. 'Pointed knives, readily available in most kitchens, pose a very real risk of being tragically used as weapons on our streets. A simple yet effective change, replacing our kitchen knives with rounded ones, can remove this potential for danger. 'If we all make a small change in our homes, together we can play a powerful role in preventing future tragedies before they unfold.' Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were murdered and eight other children and two adults were injured in the attack in Southport in July last year, carried out with a knife bought on Amazon while the killer was under-age. The Let's Be Blunt campaign is set to be launched at a parliamentary reception on Wednesday evening. Actor Idris Elba has also called for a move to round-ended blades in his anti-knife crime campaigning. (Yui Mok/PA) Actor Idris Elba has also called for a move away from pointed kitchen knives, and initial research by forensic scientist Leisa Nichols-Drew with a team at De Montfort University suggests that they may be safer. The researchers found that 10 different rounded knives did not cut everyday clothing such as cotton t-shirts and denim jeans in tests with 1,200 repeated stabbing motions, whereas two pointed blades did. News of the campaign came as the Home Office unveiled plans for knife crime activist Faron Paul to travel across the country in an amnesty van. The campaigner will tour London, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester in July to help get rid of dangerous blades. The Home Office is also funding 37 new surrender bins, made by charity Word 4 Weapons, across the same locations where 45% of knife crime in England and Wales takes place. It comes as a ban on ninja swords campaigned for by the family of murdered teenager Ronan Kanda is set to come into force from August 1. It will be illegal to possess, sell, make or import the weapon as part of anti-knife crime measures introduced under Ronan's Law. Ronan's mother Pooja Kanda has campaigned for a law change since the death of her 16-year-old son, who was yards away from his Wolverhampton home when he was murdered with a ninja sword in 2022. Anyone handing in a ninja sword can claim compensation of £5 – the wholesale price of the weapon – if they return it to a designated police station. The new surrender bins have been purpose-built to cater for larger weapons such as ninja swords, and 33 will be placed across London, two in the West Midlands and two in Greater Manchester. Mr Paul's van is also specifically built for the task and will be supported by police officers on the move. The anti-knife crime campaigner and chief executive of FazAmnesty uses social media to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying knives after surviving two life-threatening attacks himself. Mr Paul said: 'The launch of the UK's first-ever amnesty van is a historic moment – not just for FazAmnesty, but for communities across the country. 'In partnership with the Home Office, this van allows us to take our mission directly to the people, giving them a safe, secure, and discreet way to hand in offensive weapons. 'It's more than just a vehicle – it's a symbol of hope, change, and second chances. 'This is about saving lives, protecting our communities, and breaking the cycle of violence.' It will be illegal to have a ninja sword after August 1, and anyone caught with one could face six months in prison, set to increase to two years under plans in the Crime and Policing Bill. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: 'This Government is taking a different approach to tackling knife crime – one rooted in partnership with those who have first-hand experience of this devastating crime. 'We know that young people involved in crime can have complex pasts and often deep-rooted mistrust in authority, and I truly believe it's this kind of collaboration that will save young lives.'
Times
21-05-2025
- Times
Southport yoga teacher: I haven't used a knife since the attack
Leanne Lucas was weeks away from completing her studies as a counsellor to further her thriving wellness business when an act of misogynistic violence shattered her world. The 36-year-old primary school teacher was leading a group of young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class in Southport on July 29 last year when horror descended. A hooded teenager, Axel Rudakubana, now 18, burst in and fatally stabbed Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and tried to kill ten others — including Lucas. It later emerged that Rudakubana had circumvented age verification checks to buy a kitchen knife on Amazon. Lucas suffered serious injuries as she tried to protect the girls. In January, the killer admitted his
Sky News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Teachers of Southport stabbing victim plan charity skydive to 'celebrate her incredible spirit'
The teachers of one of the Southport stabbing victims plan to "celebrate her incredible spirit" by jumping out of a plane at 15,000ft in a charity skydive. Seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe was killed along with Bebe King, six, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar in an attack by Axel Rudakubana at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last July. Jennifer Sephton and Adrian Antell, headteachers of Farnborough Road Infant School and Farnborough Road Junior School respectively, will be skydiving to raise funds for Elsie's Story Charitable Trust, which has been set up in memory of the former pupil. Children from the schools will be contributing by taking part in a "break the rules day", where they can donate in exchange for breaking one of 15 school rules, including dancing in the classroom and sporting temporary tattoos. Ms Sephton said: "This is a charity so close to both our hearts. "It was always a privilege to teach Elsie and be part of her learning journey at Farnborough. "She was such a charismatic, determined young lady who always had an infectious energy and a sparkle in her eyes. "Elsie is our inspiration and we wanted to do something to honour her memory and celebrate her incredible spirit." Mr Antell said: "Without a doubt we're both going to be very scared when it comes to jumping! But we know Elsie would be absolutely overjoyed to know her teachers were doing a skydive for her. "Elsie's Story is such a wonderful charity that is determined to make positive, long-lasting change for the town and people of Southport. "We want to show our unwavering commitment for the work they are determined to do." The charity was set up by Elsie's family following her death to provide grants for children in the community, including funding activities, resources and special experiences to bring "happiness and hope". Rudakubana,18, was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January for the murders of the three young girls and attempted murder of eight other children and two adults.
