Generous donations following burglary
COMMUNITY RAISES £2,000
HEARTLESS vandals targeted a volunteer-led Gateshead centre offering arts and support classes for some of the borough’s most vulnerable.
Now, the generous community appalled by the shocking act has rallied to raise almost £2,000 in support of the Gateway Studio Project.
Burglars broke in to the Trinity Community Centre on High Street overnight, snatching a bicycle and a pair of headphones, as well as causing “significant” damage to the listed building.
The crime was discovered by volunteers the following morning on Valentine’s Day, and artistic director Martin Hylton admits the break-in knocked the community group for six. Martin said: “When it first happened, we all thought why would someone do this?
“It was depressing.”
Locks on the large oak front doors were broken, and the offenders also damaged the offices inside.
Martin, 47, from Gateshead, added: “The damage was quite significant.
“We are next to two pubs and get on really well with our neighbours and their customers.
“In the time we have been here we’ve had nothing but support.”
The Gateway Studio Project has called the Trinity Community Centre home since 2016, and offers dance classes and a home for community groups such as Age UK to regularly meet. Founding director Martin says the community interest project was envisaged as an “artistic village” for all to engage with community programmes
But after the break-in, volunteers were scrambling for ideas on how to repair the damage, secure the building and continue serving the community. A GoFundMe page was suggested, and within minutes of being set up the first donation was received. Martin said: “It was a shock. It moved us as an Martin Hylton organisation literally to tears.
“We could not believe the community would support us that way.
“It just kept going up and up, we were really blown away.”
An initial target of £600 was reached within days, and almost two weeks on, a total of £1,935 has been donated.
Martin finished: “The great thing is because we’ve raised so much we can get the doors changed.
“We can make the building even more secure as we can afford CCTV cameras and alarms.”
Northumbria Police has confirmed the investigation into the burglary is “ongoing”.
Anyone with information is urged to contact 101 quoting reference number 391 14/02/19, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
When it first happened, we all thought why would someone do this? It was depressing