Goths for Sophie

The 'Goths for Sophie Calendar Project' is an Australian made creative endeavour to raise funds for The Sophie Lancaster Foundation in the UK. This our 5th year in running this project. Please read on to understand the story of Sophie and how we can create change against hate crime.

On 11 August 2007, Sophie Lancaster and her partner were attacked by a gang of teenagers in a park in Lancashire. Instead of fleeing, Sophie went to her partners aid. The couple were kicked, stamped on and left unconscious for nothing more than looking different. Sophie later died from her injuries. If anything positive is to come from her death, Sophie’s family and friends would like it to be you.

Sophie's murder was treated as a Hate Crime by Judge Russell who sentenced the murderers accordingly. Under the current UK Hate Crime Legislation, and as the motivation behind the murder was hateful, he was able to use his discretion to class it as a Hate Crime.

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation are working to have "Alternative Subcultures" or "Lifestyle and Dress Code" added to the reportable Hate Crime strands to ensure that it is not a discretionary option but equal to the existing strands which are:

Race

Religion

Disability

Homophobia

Transgender

We have gathered 12 amazing people from all around the world online, who have united to form allegiance to raise money for The Sophie Lancaster Foundation. We created the first calendar in 2017 to mark the 10th year of Sophie’s passing. This year in 2021, we are continuing the project as promised with a 2022 calendar ready to go. It's been a challenging year with COVID-19 restrictions on photoshoots and other delays but we pushed through and it is a testament to all those who participated. A true credit and our most organised year despite the pandemic.

This project is to celebrate alternative subcultures from all walks of life, all nationalities, as they are, for who they are. It’s about the importance of staying true to yourself and to share the message that it’s OK to be YOU at any age, any nationality, any gender and to express your style and uniqueness without prejudice or discrimination. It’s an identity and culture like any other. ‘Goths for Sophie’ is a collaboration formed purely online by people who have a message about what it means to be YOU and the true essence of community spirit.

In purchasing this calendar, we all thank you so much for helping us support The Sophie Lancaster Foundation and their work in hate crime prevention and awareness for future generations, not just in the UK, but around the world.

100% of the profits raised will be donated to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

How will we create awareness?

We feel that the individuals in the calendar have a strong sense of community, honesty and lead by example when it comes to 'being yourself' and to stand up for your right to be Goth and be unique without prejudice. 

All of the people featured in the calendar will be promoting the campaign during the course of this fundraising period and we hope to share this news on all social media, whether it be YouTube videos, Instagram posts or Facebook shares. The more engagement we have, the more we can share this message and assist The Sophie Lancaster Foundation to raise money.

The following Ambassadors are featured in the 2022 Calendar:

January - Reikon DeVore, Switzerland

February - Divina de Campo, UK (RuPaul's Drag Race UK)

March - Marilyn Rose, Australia

April - Trve, USA

May - Ma’MaQueen, Netherlands (RuPaul's Drag Race Holland)

June - Joana Shino, Portugal

July - Elly Mantzaris, Australia

August - Niara Noctyrna, USA

September - Olga Vukulova, Russia

October - Opal Wilde, UK

November - My Beautiful Nightmare, UK

December - Victoria Lovelace, Sweden

Aims and Objectives

Following the horrific murder of Sophie Lancaster, her family wanted to ensure a lasting legacy to their beautiful, bright and creative daughter. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation was established and became a registered charity in 2009.

– To create a lasting legacy to Sophie

– To provide educational group works that challenge the prejudiced based bullying and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures

– To campaign to have the UK Hate Crime legislation extended to include people from alternative subcultures.

To find out how to stamp out prejudice, hatred and intolerance, please visit the official Sophie Lancaster Foundation website sophielancasterfoundation.com

(Registered Charity Number 1129689)

Initial funds raised will be used to print and ship / distribute the calendar.

100% of the profit raised after printing costs and distribution will go to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

All individuals outlined above are unpaid as part of this charity project. Their time and effort is voluntary with no remuneration.

Sophie's Mum and youth worker, Sylvia Lancaster OBE, has launched an educational game to take into high schools and other young peoples establishments that shows young people how easy it is to be more tolerant and open their minds to accept all people, despite their lifestyle or appearance. The Sophie Game is a paid for resource available for teachers to use in schools and other educational sites across the UK.

The Sophie Lancaster Foundation devote their time and resources to provide education to children across the UK and to also have people in the offices to continue the growth of the foundation. The education game S.O.P.H.I.E that has been established but to have more of those with the money GOTHS FOR SOPHIE can raise to perhaps have those distributed worldwide would be amazing.

Note: All transcripts and transaction details are to be provided to The Sophie Lancaster Foundation for complete transparency as well as invoicing of all print and shipping costs worldwide.

Contact

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us via email [email protected] or visit gothsforsophie.com to find out how you can become an ambassador or help us with the calendar project each year.

Thank you for your support!