Georgie Laming

It’s almost unbelievable to think that a year has passed since the horrific events in Southport and the worrying scenes of rioting and violence across the country.

Much of the focus and attention has rightly been on the minority of people who took to the streets, vandalised community buildings, and attempted to set fire to asylum seeker accommodation. These events rocked this country to its core and challenged how we see ourselves.

However, that’s not the whole picture. In communities across the UK, the grief of Southport and the riots was turned into hopeful action. Good people refused to be defined by hatred and division.

In Southport, a brave woman faced up to rioters targeting a mosque in Southport just 24 hours after the murders of Alice, Bebe and Elsie. She stood firm holding a handmade sign ‘‘One Race – Human. Hope, Not Hate. Racism Not Welcome Here’.

Elsewhere Taylor Swift fans made friendship bracelets to raise money for the Alder Hey Children’s Charity and Hospital, treating those wounded in the attack and donating to the families.

In Sunderland, hundreds of people gathered after rioters tore apart the city, setting fire to a Citizens Advice building. Armed with dustpans and brushes, good samaritans got up in the early hours of the morning to pick up the pieces and repair their city. Sunderland AFC used their platform to send a message of unity, “We are stronger as one community. Now. Then. Always”

In Lincoln, the community turned up and stood firm outside a local mosque to prevent harm. Local businesses gave out free pizza and ice cream, turning potential violent disorder into an example of community action.

In Liverpool, the far right planned to target a local mosque but imam Adam Kelwick acted quickly. He gathered burgers, chips and fizzy drinks and waited at the entrance to the mosque, ready to engage with rioters. Images of Adam hugging a protester went viral, bringing hope to communities fearful of violent disorder.

A huge community fundraiser raised over £100,000 to “replenish books destroyed and help get Spellow Library back on its feet” and volunteers at Fans Supporting Foodbanks collected book donations. The library had been torched by rioters.

The list goes on. But it’s easy for these stories of hopeful action to be crowded out by scenes of riots and disorder. Social media algorithms and newspaper headlines show that feelings of anger and fear spread quickly. So it’s up to all of uss to do the long, hard and often thankless work of spreading hope. Hope isn’t just a feeling, it’s an action.

Soon after the riots, we launched our Hold on to HOPE campaign. Reminding us all that it’s our responsibility to look for the good in people, the progress in our communities and the signs of a better tomorrow.

Sadly, the politics of hatred and division is on the rise, it’s going to take all of us, taking small, hopeful actions to change the story. Sign our Hold on to HOPE pledge today.