Callous thieves target charity
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Andrea Morrow, Youth Worker, and Margaret pictured with their empty money box which was robbed after a break-in at the Compass Advocacy Network, Ballymoney. Over £1,600 which has been raised for children with learning difficulties, was taken.
THE MANAGER of Compass Advocacy Network Ltd, Ballymoney, has slammed those responsible for a break-in on their premises in recent days, whilst local Independent Cllr Roma McAfee appealed to the 'better nature' of the callous thief, to return the money.
Linda McKendry told The Chronicle that the staff and members are devastated at what they see as a 'personal attack' on somewhere that they deem a safe place.
The main office, situated on Seymour Street was broken into some time over night on January 4 and a large sum of money, including charity cash bundles, and money raised for Children in Need, was stolen.
Linda said the money had been raised by the S.INC project, it being the only one in Northern Ireland heavily funded by Children In Need, which helps to provide young people with learning difficulties (aged 12-18) the means to access mainstream sports, social and leisure activities within their local community. The money stolen had been raised to help organise trips out and fund fun things for the group to do. Linda said, "To these members, this feels like a personal attack. We have had fund raising events in the past, but it was mostly the staff who took part in it - this was done by the members of S.INC at a special night held in Ballymoney Football Social Club in November and by selling fireside quizzes in December."
The event in November was the first ever Fund Raising event that the children had actively participated in and they were able to see how these events benefit them.
Linda continued, "The money was raised locally, by local people and local businesses donated prizes to be raffled. Now we're going to have to start all over again. "We can't go back to businesses who helped us before and ask them to donate again. Everyone is devastated. The local people had given in good faith, for something they thought would benefit local members. All the members of staff are gutted and trying to explain to members that someone came into somewhere they deem a safe place and stole the money they had raised, it's very difficult."
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