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SLF Timeline

Key Moments

26 November 1986
Sophie is born in Lancashire, England.
11 August 2007
Violent unprovoked attack on Sophie and her boyfriend Rob, in a park in Bacup, Lancashire.
24 August 2007
Sophie dies at Hope Hospital, Salford. She is 20 years old.
August 2007
Five youths arrested by Lancashire Police, all between 15 -17 years old. Originally charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but following Sophie’s death all five boys charged with murder.
12 November 2007
Sophie’s funeral. Whitworth, Lancashire.
26 November 2007
The first ‘Make a Noise’ event for Sophie. Celebrating her life and remembering her on what would have been her 21st birthday. It seemed clear that celebrating and making a noise for Sophie was a more appropriate way to remember her than by having a minute’s silence. ‘Make a Noise’ goes on to become an annual event.
10 March 2008
Trial begins. Murder charges against three defendants are dropped. Ryan Herbert pleads guilty to Sophie’s murder; Brendan Harris pleads not guilty and committed to trial.
27 March 2008
Verdict. Brendan Harris guilty of murder.
28 April 2008
Sentencing.

For the attack on Rob:
  • Joseph Hulme – 5 years 10 months
  • Daniel Hulme – 5 years 10 months
  • Daniel Mallett – 4 years 4 months
For Sophie’s murder:
  • Ryan Herbert - 16 years 3 months (later reduced by 9 months on appeal)
  • Brendan Harris - 18 years
    2008
    Sylvia approached by Julian Kynaston, who is setting up make up brand Illamasqua and feels Sylvia’s charity embodies everything the brand represents. Julian funds Sylvia’s work and his support really gets the Foundation up and running.
    2009
    Sylvia meets with Justice Minister, Jack Straw, at The Ministry of Justice to discuss alternative subculture as a hate crime strand. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation became a registered charity. The Bloodstock Festival renames their second stage The Sophie Lancaster Stage.
    2010
    Sylvia becomes a member of the cross-party hate crime Independent Advisory Group to the UK Government.

    First broadcast of Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster, a poetic sequence written for Radio 4 by Simon Armitage. It was repeated soon afterwards and became the most re-requested of any programme on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.
    2012
    The stage play, Black Roses: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster opens at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre.
    March 2013
    Sylvia Lancaster with Professor Jon Garland and Dr Paul Hodkinson, publish their formal definition of Alternative Subculture, vital for any potential inroads into protecting alternative people within hate crime legislation (see Hate Crime).
    April 2013
    Greater Manchester Police (GMP) become the first police authority to record and monitor hate crimes and incidents against people from Alternative Subcultures.

    GMP state: ‘Crimes against people from Alternative Subcultures will be recorded as a crime by GMP in the same capacity as disability, racist, religious, sexual orientation and transgender hate crime to provide better support to victims and repeat victims.’
    3 March 2014
    Porcelain: The Trial for the Killing of Sophie Lancaster, a drama documentary by Ian Kershaw, first airs on BBC Radio 4. GMP state: ‘Crimes against people from Alternative Subcultures will be recorded as a crime by GMP in the same capacity as disability, racist, religious, sexual orientation and transgender hate crime to provide better support to victims and repeat victims.’
    26 March 2014
    Black Roses Listening event and Hate Crime discussion in The House of Commons. The discussion is led by John Robb and is sponsored by Kerry McCarthy, MP.
    May 2014
    The BBC film of Simon Armitage’s Black Roses The Killing of Sophie Lancaster, directed by Sue Roberts, premiers at The Dancehouse, Manchester.
    26 November 2014
    The Sophie Lancaster Foundation holds the world's first Alternative Hate Crime Conference.
    11 December 2014
    Sylvia Lancaster receives her OBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace, awarded in recognition of her work for ‘community cohesion - especially in reduction of hate crime’.
    18 June 2017
    BBC Film, Murdered for Being Different, directed by Paul Andrew Williams, airs on BBC 3.
    13 May 2018
    Murdered for Being Different wins BAFTA for Best Single Drama at The British Academy Television Awards.
    18 July 2018
    Sylvia receives an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bolton.
    15 July 2019
    Sylvia receives an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Surrey.
    2020
    Impact of the Coronavirus pandemic hits the UK and all usual income sources supressed. Sophie educational resources and all training transferred online and results in the biggest digital transformation in the Foundation’s history.
    2021
    Since the easing of Covid restrictions, our team has been working harder than ever to stamp out prejudice, hatred and intolerance everywhere.
    12 April 2022
    Sophie's Mum and founder of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE, died.
    2023
    Beginning the year with an exponentially successful festival campaign, relaunching our training sessions and recruiting 2 new members of staff for the roles of Marketing & Development Manager and Education & Engagement Manager in 2023.
    October 2023
    We launched the findings from our hate crime survey, along with a detail commentary outlining our plan going forward. This is a pivotal moment for the Foundation and the future of alternative hate crimes.