The chief executive of a charity that supports adults with learning disabilities is pleading with people to respect its work after being targeted by thieves for the second time this year.

Spadework based in Offham says at some point over the last few days thieves snuck into its car park and stole the spare wheel from a mini bus and caused significant damage to the vehicle as a result.

It has now started a fundraiser to cover the costs of the damage and has so far raised £675.

Kris Healey, chief executive at the charity said: "We found out it was damaged on Wednesday when we went to use the vehicle, which was wholly funded by the National Lottery, to collect one of our Trainees to bring them to Spadework for the day.

"We hadn’t used this vehicle for a couple of days, so it was definitely damaged on site.

"I have checked the security cameras and we have not had any unwanted late night visitors, which means it must have happened during the day, which I think actually hurts more because at the same time that we were delivering care, support and meaningful opportunities for adults with learning and other disabilities, someone was knowingly causing damage and stealing from us.

"It wasn’t just the stealing of the spare wheel, they have also broken the undercarriage of the cradle holding the wheel, so there is bodywork damage, chassis damage and cables have been cut also.

"Any theft hurts, but stealing from a charity, particularly knowing that it was on a day that our Trainees were on site, really hurts.

"Spadework can not exist without the support of the local community and that support has never been needed more.

"2021 was already going to be a difficult year and shameless acts of vandalism and thievery certainly do not help."

This is not the first time the charity, which has been running for 37 years, has been targeted.

In February, it faced a similar problem when more than £7,500 of equipment was stolen in a break-in. One of the items reported missing was a generator.

Just before Christmas in 2017, the café and computer rooms were ransacked in the early hours, with burglars smashing two windows and a door, causing more than £500 of damage.

But nothing was taken and, after a clean-up operation, the Teston Road charity was able to honour its Christmas dinner bookings.

In the wake of the incident, Mr Healey is pleading with people to be more respectful.

He added: "Please respect the charity, please respect our belongings, please respect the work that we do, but most of all, please be kind.

"As a charity we fight for our very existence on a daily basis, relying on restricted donations from Trusts or Charity Foundations, unrestricted donations from members of the local community or from our customers who support our charity Garden Centre and Farm Shop.

"Every visit means the world to us, so please continue to support us."

To donate to the latest fundraiser, visit the charity's Facebook page or click here.

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