Hundreds of people gathered on Plattsville Road in Mossley Hill on the evening of October 31 for a residential Halloween party that raised hundreds of pounds for charity within a few hours. The event, organised by a residents' committee, supports a different charity each year, with this year's proceeds going to Little Lights Liverpool, formerly Liverpool Zoe's Place.
Community effort behind the event
Becka Griffin, a resident on the Plattsville Road committee, explained that the tradition began during lockdown, before she moved to the area. All the houses on the street decorate their windows, and donations are collected for charity.
Griffin said: "It was started during lockdown, before I actually lived here, and all of the houses decorate their windows, and we take donations for charity. We've chosen a different charity each year, and we decided it would be something for children this year. There's a committee of us that all do the organising, and we had a meeting and decided to support Little Lights Liverpool this year."
Residents from adjoining streets, including Auckland, Berbice, Centreville, Cassville and Eardisley, also take part in the popular Halloween party.
Attendance and theme
Griffin estimated that at least 500 people had attended so far, noting that 500 individual sweets had been given out. She said: "In terms of the event, there's at least 500 people so far, because we had 500 individual sweets and they all went. So I think we probably have about 700 to 800 people coming in total. It's become a bit of a south Liverpool institution."
As part of the festivities, residents decorate their front windows around a given theme, with this year's theme centred on "spells". Each household provides sweets for the trick-or-treaters, and in return, the community asks for donations to the chosen charity.
Support for Little Lights Liverpool
Little Lights Liverpool provides respite, therapeutic and bereavement support to babies and children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, as well as their families. In 2024, the hospice faced closure and needed to raise £5m in 30 days. A large effort followed, with more than 60,000 organisations and individuals raising approximately £7.4m, allowing the hospice to continue as an independent organisation now known as Little Lights.
Donations to the Plattsville Road fundraiser for Little Lights Liverpool can be made online.
