VANDALS have stolen cash donations in a break-in at Bracknell’s Citizens Advice after smashing the centre’s windows.
The charity’s base, on Market Street, was raided on Thursday, March 26, but thieves only escaped with a petty cash tin with £10 in it.
The damage to the building comes at a time when the service is facing “unprecedented” demand for support from people with queries relating to coronavirus issues.
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Tina Stevenson, Citizens Advice Bracknell and District’s (CABD) Chief Executive, told the News: “It stinks of desperation. If they’re going to break into our office how desperate must they be?
“It was a horrible shock for a team who have been working so hard.
“We know we’re so important to people now and to make sure we keep giving a service.
“It was a smack in the face for them all really.”
Any help after our break in would be gratefully received. Thank you to our wonderful community for their continued support.https://t.co/LPtZvpCr5N#StayAtHome #Charity #SupportUs #Funding #PleaForHelp #ThankYou #Community pic.twitter.com/04zsMuJm5o
— Citizens Advice Bracknell & District (@AdviceBracknell) March 30, 2020
CABD’s volunteers and paid-staff have been set up to work remotely during the pandemic lockdown, meaning all IT equipment was moved out of the building when vandals smashed their way in.
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Vandals broke into a number of CABD’s cabinets while there, however, and replacing these could cost hundreds of pounds.
The charity’s bosses set up a fundraising page to ask for donations to cover the cost of the break-in, but Berkshire Community Foundation has now come forward with £250 to cover the cost of the insurance excess.
***** UPDATE******
— Citizens Advice Bracknell & District (@AdviceBracknell) March 31, 2020
A huge thank you to @berkshirecf that will donate the cost of the insurance excess. We are so grateful. Thank you. We still need funds to provide IT for our Advisers to keep our services going. Please donate if you are able to using the Just Giving link above.
Tina added: “We are so grateful to them and their continued support.”
Despite the Foundation’s contribution, Citizens Advice is still looking for donations to support its team, which helped 400 people in March.
The Chief Executive said: “I was absolutely astonished and unspeakably proud of the fact we have delivered more for more people this March compared to last March.
“It just feels like this is a time for us to really connect with our community and we want them to know we are still there.
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“What we are doing now is trying to get more IT so more of our volunteers can get online and work remotely.
“At the moment we have got 18 volunteers online but we have run out of kit now, so we are looking for funding for more IT equipment.
This is just not on! The person(s) responsible for breaking into our local #CitizensAdvice office should be ashamed of themselves. 😠 What happened to community spirit? #BracknellForest #Bracknell #UKLockdown #coronavirusuk #covid19UK #lockdownuk@JamesSunderl https://t.co/EnAsWLRP6S
— Michael Gbadebo FRSA (@MichaelG_UK) March 30, 2020
“We have got a fair few more who still want to help, but we don’t have the wherewithal to do it.”
Bracknell MP James Sunderland reacted to the break-in.
He told the News: "I just want to offer my sympathies to everyone affected by the incident.
"There is absolutely no reason to commit mindless vandalism.
"Citizens Advice is, of course, working really hard at the moment to provide that safety net for people locally and it's a very sad thing that's happened."
Donations can be made to Citizens Advice Bracknell & District here: https://justgiving.com/citizensadvicebracknell
Police have been contacted about the break-in.
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