In August 2007, Sophie Lancaster and Robert Maltby were brutally attacked by a group of teenagers in Bacup, Lancashire. They were targeted simply for dressing as part of the goth/alternative subculture. Sophie suffered severe head injuries and after 13 days in a coma her family made the heart-wrenching decision to withdraw life support. She died on 24 August 2007. Her death shocked the nation and became a tragic symbol of the overwhelming prejudice faced by alternative rock fans by all other sectors of society.

The perpetrators were swiftly brought to justice, and five male youths aged 15-17 were arrested. Two of them were later convicted of Sophie’s murder, with Judge Anthony Russell QC explicitly labelling Sophie’s murder a hate crime motivated by the victims’ alternative appearance.

Sophie’s mother Sylvia had long witnessed her daughter endure taunts and abuse for her appearance. A youth worker by background, Sylvia established the Sophie Lancaster Foundation with the mission of championing people from alternative subcultures in communities, and turning Sophie’s story into a powerful educational tool. Over the next 15 years, she tirelessly built the foundation into a force for advocacy and education before she tragically passed away in April 2022.

What began as a grieving mother’s resolve to fight for change has grown into a multifaceted charity. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation now engages in education and youth outreach, and in 2009, the UK’s biggest metal festival, Bloodstock Open Air, renamed its second stage the Sophie Lancaster Stage in her honour.

In 2021, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation worked with the writers of Coronation Street on a storyline where a goth character and her partner were attacked, and the collaboration ensured the portrayal was respectful and true to Sophie’s real story, bringing the conversation to an audience of millions. Viewers warmed to the goth character Nina, dispelling long-held negative preconceptions about those of us who dress differently.

As of 2021, 18 police forces in the UK monitor hate crimes against people from alternative subcultures, thanks in large part to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation’s advocacy efforts. This year marks 18 years since the attack on Sophie and Robert, and the landscape for alternative youth has definitely shifted. In the 2000s, teenagers who dressed goth or emo were at constant risk of ridicule and even violence. Sophie’s attack was sadly just an extreme example of a wider pattern, but the fact that a primetime soap could successfully build empathy for a goth character speaks volumes about shifting norms.

We spoke to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation’s CEO Alison Vincent to find out more:

Hi Alison! Can you describe the work the Sophie Lancaster Foundation does?

Can you tell us about how you personally came to be involved with the foundation, and why this work matters to you on a personal level?

If you can describe the work you do in schools, how do students tend to react when hearing about Sophie’s story?

Have you noticed any shifts in trends when it comes to alternative kids and bullying over the past few decades?

What do you think alternative subcultures offer to young people who are attracted to it over mainstream culture?

Would you say the culture has changed since 2007?

Do you feel like the police and justice system now takes these types of targeted crimes more seriously than they used to?

Do you think schools are doing more than they did, and do you feel like they’re doing enough?

Can you tell us more about your partnership with Bloodstock Festival? Do you have a presence at any other festivals?

What projects or campaigns have you got lined up?