Mother criticises government for not supporting Lawrence charity
Government should want to support our organisation, says Doreen Lawrence Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Mrs Lawrence said the money raised by the concert would help her foundation, which has struggled for funding in recent years, to continue its work for another 20 years.
Speaking after the launch event at Abbey Road studios, she said that she would like to see the Government provide more funding.
She said they had received some emergency funding from the Home Office, but added "we shouldn't have to do that".
"We shouldn't have to think 'that's just a one-off'. They should look to continue to do it," she said.
The commemorative plaque in Eltham, where Stephen Lawrence was murdered in 1993 Credit: Matthew Fearn/PA Wire/Press Association Images
"They have seen the work that we do, they have seen the progress we have made, they have seen all the opportunities that young people have had since they have been at the Stephen Lawrence Centre.
"I think that should be something that makes them say: 'Ok, we want to support an organisation like you, you can make a difference to so many young lives, get them off the streets, get them into education, get them into a profession.'
"That is what I would like to see the Government do a lot more of."
Doreen Lawrence pushes for fairer community policing
Doreen Lawrence said more would be done this year to ensure no other family has to go through what she endured, including an outreach programme to new police chiefs.
Elsewhere, a concert planned for April, a criminal justice lecture, an annual memorial lecture and a gala ball will help raise awareness and funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, which Mrs Lawrence founded
Mrs Lawrence said the trust would campaign to new police and crime commissioners for fairer community policing.
A memorial service will be held at St Martin in the Fields on April 22, the date Stephen died in 1993, as part of the so-called SL20 Campaign.
'There is more to be done to get justice for Stephen'
Doreen Lawrence's son Stephen was murdered in 1993. Credit: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters
The mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence says there is "more to be done to get justice" for her son.
A memorial service will be held later this year to mark the 20th anniversary of his death, and a gala ball will raise funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
Doreen Lawrence said:
"It is hard to believe that 2013 will mark 20 years since Stephen died.
"This time last year we faced the conviction of two of Stephen's killers and the relief I felt then has stayed with me through the extraordinary year that was 2012.
"Despite this, our focus has to be on the next 20 years. There is more to be done to get justice for Stephen and to ensure that no other family has to go through what we endured."
