Ashgate Hospice shop

Ashgate Hospice charity shop ‘targeted’ three times by vandals

29/06/2022 13:45

A charity shop in Alfreton is facing costly repairs after vandals climbed onto the roof and blocked their waste system for a third time in the last 12 months.

Ashgate Hospice’s shop on Alfreton’s High Street was vandalised on Tuesday night and forced the shop to close for the majority of Wednesday, depriving the charity of much needed income.

The cost to repair the waste system was £1,000 with hundreds more lost from the closure of the shop.

Staff at Ashgate’s Alfreton shop, which raises money for people living with a life-limiting illness in North Derbyshire, are “sad and disappointed” that they have been targeted again.

Peter Stone, Director of Income Generation at the hospice, said:

“An act of vandalism such as this has a huge impact on the hospice and on our dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to raise the crucial money needed to provide our services.

“Not only does the shop raise much needed funds so we can deliver our vital care, but it is also and integral part of our local community.

“It is hard to imagine why someone would do something like this to a shop that is there to support such a worthy cause.”

Just last month the charity was victim to another crime when thieves stole a van used to collect donations from their Old Brampton site. 

Ashgate Hospice’s network of shops raise in excess of £3 million each year to help local people living with a life-limiting illness.

Peter said: “I would just like to say a special thank you to Parsons Plumbing and Heating who dropped everything to come out and fix the damage in the same day. Without a doubt this has saved us losing even more money from being closed for longer.”