Kind-hearted firm steps in to help charity
Chiefs at a Sunderland charity which was targeted by burglars who made off with thousands of pounds worth of equipment, have spoken of their joy after a kindhearted company stepped into help them.
Fiscus, a community advice charity based in Villette Road, Hendon, was raided over the weekend of Friday, May 5, and Monday, May 8.
Thieves gained entry to the offices by smashing their way through the roof before stealing three laptops, a PC, a projector and two mobile phones.
In the process they also broke into cabinets and drawers, causing considerable damage.
Northumbria Police is aware of the incident and is hoping that witnesses can help bring those responsible to justice.
The charity, which helps about 1,000 people every year, works with partner organisations, sharing resources to provide advice, crisis support and community services in Sunderland and the wider North East.
The team of six is made up of staff and volunteers, who have since taken measures, installing CCTV cameras on site.
As well as having a big reaction from the Wearside community to its plight, the organisation has now been handed donations of laptops and a projector from Newcastle-based RB Group.
Charity manager at Fiscus, Anita Heskett-Saddington, said: “For a firm in Newcastle to see what has happened to us, pick up the phone and help out a charity in Sunderland is brilliant, and this will help us enormously.
“We haven’t been able to replace all of the laptops which were taken and we need them for the work we do here, so this is massive.
“Overall it was probably about £3,000-worth of stuff which was taken when we counted it all up.” Anita added that she and fellow staff have been heartened not only by the donation, but also the goodwill shown to Fiscus by the community.
“Everybody has shown sympathy with what happened and many have said they are disgusted by us being targeted by whoever has done this,” she said.
“The staff were delighted to get a phone call out of the blue to say that someone had seen about the burglary and wanted to help because they see the work we do.
“All charities are finding it hard at the minute, and the last thing you want is to lose some of your resources.
“We really appreciate the help and hopefully we can get back to normal.”