Regretful May hosts Grenfell children
THERESA May held a special event yesterday for some of the youngest children affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster – after admitting she will “always regret” failing to meet survivors.
The PM invited the children to 10 Downing Street, where she met local residents including Judith Zacharias and her two children Alexander and Soliana. Others who met Mrs May included Ferhat Achiou and his siblings Samira and Nedir, and youngster Amin Rhammaz, who were pictured smiling outside the event.
Silence
The special reception was hosted as part of a Green for Grenfell initiative, designed to commemorate the 72 people who lost their lives and those left scarred by the tragedy a year ago tomorrow.
All Government departments will observe a minute’s silence at noon tomorrow and many landmarks including No10 will be lit up green in the evening.
The Government is also support- ing Friday’s Green for Grenfell Day initiative, in which people are being urged by non-profit Grenfell United to wear something that colour in memory of those who died.
Yesterday’s reception came a day after the PM attended a service at Ferhat Achiou and siblings Nedir and Samira St Clement’s Church and laid wreath with a handwritten note.
Mrs May admitted to failings in the immediate aftermath of the fire in Kensington, west London, insisting she understood why victims felt as though she “didn’t care”. She a said: “It was a tragedy unparalleled in recent history and, although many people did incredible work during and after the fire, the initial response was not good enough. I include myself in that.”
Meanwhile the NHS revealed that mental health treatment for those affected by the tragedy is expected to cost £10million, with around 700 adults and children being treated.
Extra money to help those affected was given to health authorities in London by NHS England.