A tattoo studio in Manchester has held a mass inking session for Northern Rail staff to raise money for victims of the Manchester terror attack.

Alchemy Studio, whose bee body art became a symbol of solidarity after the Manchester terror attack, tattooed 30 workers from Manchester Victoria station on Sunday 2 July.

James Davis and his team at Alchemy began offering the distinctive design following the horrific bombing that claimed 22 lives and injured dozens more.

They charged a minimum of £22 for each bee at the Alchemy tattoo studio in Wigan — with all money going towards victims of the attack.

The worker bee has long been an important symbol for Manchester, reflecting the city’s hard-working past during the Industrial Revolution.

James and the team at Alchemy raised £1,600 at the event. The money will be added to the £7,000 they have already raised, all of which will help us support the victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack.

James said: ‘We did the first tattoos on Tuesday morning, following the attack, and within just a few hours people were queuing out the door.

‘We asked for a donation of £22 but we’ve had donations of up to £200.

‘We’ve had a variety of people, including those who were there on the night of the attack, and many more who want to show their solidarity to the victims of this horrendous attack.’

James added: ‘We had given people our word that this money would be used to directly support those affected by the attack, and thanks to Victim Support we are able to ensure that.’

Victim Support’s homicide service is working with families of the victims killed in the attack. Our homicide team offers immediate practical support such as assisting with funeral arrangements, childcare and transportation as well as ensuring victims have access to the emotional support they need, for as long as they need it.

We also assist other victims and witnesses through our Supportline, providing immediate emotional support and arranging longer-term practical and psychological help.
So far we’ve helped almost 450 people who have been affected by the attack.

Ellen Miller, Victim Support’s Service Director for Northern England, said: ‘We are very grateful to receive this money, which will be used to support the victims of the attack.

‘One month on we are still receiving up to 14 calls a day from people who have been affected, many of those seeking support for children — some as young as six.

‘We know from our experience of working with survivors and witnesses of terror attacks that it can take weeks, or even months, for people to come forward seeking help and the support needed is intense and long term.’

If you’ve been affected by the recent terror attacks, you can contact Victim Support for free and confidential support.