‘Sickened’ by sensory garden theft
A Sunderland voluntary group which supports children with autism and their families suffered a devastating break-in at the weekend.
After starting out as a small support group, Include ‘In’ Autism now offers workshops, accredited training and activity groups for hundreds of families.
It has a sensory garden at its premises at the Downhill Centre in Killarney Square, which provides hours of pleasure for autistic children which the group helps.
It is a safe place for youngsters with additional needs and their families to go to explore their senses, enjoy some quiet time or to run about.
But it suffered a breakin on Saturday night, with metres of wood ripped from its fence and equipment, including sensory tents, stolen from a shed, which was wrecked.
Marie Jevon, the foundfence er and chief executive of the group, which was nominated for a Best of Wearside award last year, said she was “sickened” by the raid.
“We heard about it at about 3pm on Sunday, and some of the volunteers went across. It was devastating. I felt sickened.
“Whoever has done this must have come in and seen it was a place for kids, yet they’ve still done this. There are no words to describe how I feel.
“It broke my heart when I saw what had been done.
“We’ve tried to repair the so no one else can get in, but I’m worried about the effect this will have on the kids.”
Marie said she wanted to thank the volunteers who turned out to help repair the damage – her husband John, Gary and Karen Curtis, Amy Hossack, Rachel Hepton, Bernadette Rice and Sam Brass.
Amy Hossack has also started a Go Fund Me page to help pay for repairs and additional security.
To make a donation search for “help us repair our sensory garden”.