Nation marks eighth anniversary of Grenfell Tower fire

Grenfell United, of course, is the campaigning group made up of survivors and bereaved families of the Grenfell Tower fire. Founded in the days after the tragedy, group members work together for the community and campaign for truth, justice and change. It’s a registered family association underpinned by an elected committee that seeks to represent the survivors and bereaved families.

In keeping with tradition, there will be a silent walk to mark the eighth anniversary of the fire and speeches made by various campaigners. The walk begins at 6.30 pm outside the Notting Hill Methodist Church.

Kensington and Chelsea Council has made comment on the anniversary courtesy of leader Elizabeth Campbell, who stated: “Eight years on from the Grenfell tragedy, our thoughts remain with those who lost their lives, their loved ones and their homes on 14 June 2017. This Council could and should have done more to keep our residents safe before the fire and to care for them in the aftermath.”

Campbell continued: “This anniversary is particularly poignant. It’s the first since the Grenfell Tower Inquiry laid bare the failings that led to the tragedy and the last before the building is sensitively taken down. While the community continues its long wait for justice, we have begun to deliver on the 45 commitments we made to change in light of the Public Inquiry’s findings.”

In addition, Campbell noted: “We will not stop until we’ve improved our culture and met the challenge set for us by the bereaved and the survivors to become the best Council for our residents. That will be our lasting legacy to the tragedy.”

Meeting the commitments

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel published its findings last September and Kensington and Chelsea Council responded two months later, duly outlining the aforementioned 45 commitments in light of the Inquiry Panel’s findings.

On 2 May, Kensington and Chelsea Council published its first progress report on how it’s meeting the commitments. In December, the Council extended its ban on contractors and products implicated in the Grenfell Tower fire. All officers in Building Control have obtained professional accreditation. Further, a ‘four eyes’ principle has been introduced whereby all Building Control completions now require review by two qualified professionals.

Kensington and Chelsea Council has also launched a consultation into the future of public participation in the Royal Borough, including an updated Charter for Public Participation and a review of the dedicated Citizens’ Panel.

Resilience responsibilities are being included in all senior officer contracts, with Gold and Silver Commanders completing accredited external training.

Information on the next steps for the Grenfell Tower site has recently been provided in the form of an update video issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Next steps for the Council

In terms of next steps, the Council will begin recruiting for an Independent Advisory Panel, duly involving Grenfell survivors and residents to help hold the Council to account on its commitments. It’s also going to commission an external review of the culture at the Council, overseen by the new Advisory Panel, as well as conduct an end-to-end review of complaints.

Elizabeth Campbell explained: “I know that people want to see and feel real and tangible change. We have made significant progress since we responded to the Public Inquiry’s findings in November. We’ve strengthened our resilience and Building Control functions and extended a ban on contractors and products implicated in the tragedy. Now, we’re consulting on how we can engage more of our residents through public participation in the Borough.”

According to Campbell: “This is just the start. There is more work to be done and I will ensure that we keep up the pace of change.”

Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission

The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has issued a special and extremely poignant eight-minute film to mark the eighth anniversary of the tragedy.

Isaac Paulos lived on the 18th floor of Grenfell Tower. Aged just five years old, he was one of the youngest of the 72 victims of the fire.

Completed in March 2022, the Isaac Paulos Centre for Education and Well-Being stands in the grounds of Isaac’s former primary school, namely St Francis of Assisi, in the heart of Notting Dale, and just metres from the foot of Grenfell Tower. The young boy’s name is written in large silver letters on walls painted in a bold and vibrant orange.

The Isaac Paulos Centre for Education and Well-Being offers therapy spaces, activity spaces, modern classrooms, intervention rooms, a kitchen for children’s cookery classes, parent workshops and a kitchen garden area. It’s a living and standing memorial in which the lives of children in the community are enriched and supported.

The film features several of the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission’s community representatives, among them Paulos Tekle, Sandra Ruiz, Abbas Dadou and Samia Badani. Between them, they represent the bereaved families, the survivors and the local residents who live close to Grenfell.

Those involved describe the importance of creating spaces that honour the memory of the 72 people who lost their lives and which enable individuals to learn about and remember the tragedy so that it can never be forgotten.

Statement from the London Fire Commissioner

Speaking eight years on from the Grenfell Tower fire, London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “As we mark the eighth anniversary of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the 72 people who lost their lives, as well as the survivors, their families and the wider community. Over the years, the strength and dignity shown by the Grenfell community has been, and continues to be, humbling and inspiring.”

Roe continued: “Last year, we completed every recommendation directed specifically at the London Fire Brigade in the Phase 1 Inquiry. We have introduced important new policies and state-of-the-art equipment, while also implementing improved training and better ways of working, particularly so in terms of how we respond to fires in high-rise buildings. We will never become complacent and know there is more important work to do.”

In conclusion, Roe stated: “We must never forget that the suffering of that night changed the lives of so many people forever. We owe it to them to continue to listen, make changes and drive forward improvements across the Brigade. We must do all that we can to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.”