Millstead Primary School, the beneficiary of the ‘Hillsborough 96’ Sunshine Coach provided by Mayor Joe Anderson’s charity fund were presented with their coach on 26th February 2013.

In July 2013, Mayor Anderson announced that he had money ring-fenced, from his Mayoral charity fund, for one of the special Hillsborough 96 Sunshine Coaches. In November, a fantastic dinner was held at Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza Hotel to raise the funds for a second Sunshine Coach and to pay tribute to the 96 Hillsborough victims.

The dinner raised over £100,000 for Variety, the Children’s Charity, in Merseyside. This has allowed the purchase of a further three Hillsborough 96 Sunshine Coaches for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children across Merseyside.

The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson said:

“I am delighted to be presenting a Sunshine Coach to Millstead School alongside Variety, the Children’s Charity and the Hillsborough Family Support Group. This special coach, in memory of the Hillsborough 96, is so gratefully received at Millstead who are due to expand with the reopening of the new and improved school later this year.

The Sunshine Coach will transport over 100 pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties, whilst acting as a moving memorial to those 96 who tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough.”

Margaret Aspinall, Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group added:

“The HFSG are delighted that Variety, chose to honour the Hillsborough 96 with this wonderful gesture which will benefit disabled and disadvantaged children in Liverpool. Seeing the children of Millstead School and their reaction to the Sunshine Coach is a real privilege. We are so thankful to Variety, for all their hard work in making this happen.”

Photo(L-R): Mayor Joe Anderson in the Sunshine Coach, Margaret Aspinall (HFSG),Sue Roberts (HFSG),Graham Carnall (Vice Chairman, Merseyside Committee) along with Head Teacher,Parents and Children

Photo: Graham Carnall (Vice Chairman, Merseyside Committee) presenting plaque to Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson