'My son deserves to be spoken about'

The mother of a 16 year old boy who was stabbed to death said victims of serious violence "deserve to be spoke about" as an event she set up to support victims of serious violence is under threat.

Mandy Jamieson's son Daniel died after a single stab wound to his leg in Gateacre, Liverpool in 2018.

For the past five years Mandy has organised the Serious Violence Remembrance evening in the city to raise awareness of violent crime and as a support network for other families.

Liverpool City Council said it can no longer offer one of its buildings as a venue but will work with Mandy to try to find an alternative.

"Five years ago I set up this evening for people affected by serious violence to have special dedicated moments of remembrance," she told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"It is the only time families could come together to remember their loved ones. It means everything."

She said victim families were "really distressed" that the event, due to take place on 25 September, may be cancelled.

"It's not just for me. It's about all of us," she said. She explained how she "went to bits" when her son was fatally stabbed and it took her "several years" before she was able to talk about her grief.

The event, which had previously been held in St George's Hall, is open to the public as well as victim's families includes, talks and poems and a vigil to people who have died as a result of serious violence.

"They all deserve to be spoken about," she said.

"It's not easy, but I use it now as a form of therapy, because I believe my son deserves to be spoken about.

"I am proud of any mother that has lost their child that can get up out of the bed and actually do something," she said.

Mandy also visits schools to warn of the dangers of violence and knives.

"I do not want another mother to have to go through what we go through," she said.

"If I can change one child's mindset, to me, that means everything."

She is now appealing for help to secure a venue free of charge for the event due to take place in September.

A Liverpool City Council representative said: "We have been proud to support the Serious Violence Remembrance event for the last five years.

"We are reviewing the work to remember victims of serious violence.

"Although we can't offer one of our own buildings, we have pledged to work with Mandy and Danny's Place to help them find an alternative venue."

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