Donations pour in for Portsmouth disabilities group 'devastated' by thieves who stole £2,400

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BOSSES at a disabilities group targeted by thieves have been left ‘overwhelmed’ after Good Samaritans united to raise close to £3,000 for them.
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The money, which had taken about 18 months to raise, had been meant to fund a post-lockdown reunion party for up to 100 disabled adults supported by Creative Advances.

But the ‘heartbreaking’ theft left the September bash in Southsea at risk of being cancelled entirely – that was until the community of Portsmouth stepped in.

David Luckett, former owner of Lucketts, has pledged to donate £1,000 to help disabilities group Creative Advances. Photo: Allan Hutchings (101925-168)David Luckett, former owner of Lucketts, has pledged to donate £1,000 to help disabilities group Creative Advances. Photo: Allan Hutchings (101925-168)
David Luckett, former owner of Lucketts, has pledged to donate £1,000 to help disabilities group Creative Advances. Photo: Allan Hutchings (101925-168)

In little more than a day, kind-hearted people from across the city stumped up more than £1,500 via a online fundraising page.

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And in a stunning pledge, retired businessman David Luckett – former owner of coach company Lucketts Travel – has vowed to donate a whopping £1,000 to Creative Advances.

Faye Dine, service manager of the disabilities group, said: ‘The people of Portsmouth and the surrounding area have been absolutely amazing. We can’t believe it. It’s really overwhelming. I don’t think there’s a day gone by that I haven't been in tears.’

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Buckland United Reformed Church, Kingston Rd
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280621-81)
Buckland United Reformed Church, Kingston Rd
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280621-81)
Buckland United Reformed Church, Kingston Rd Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280621-81)

Donations poured in after The News revealed the group’s plight on Tuesday. Within hours, hundreds of pounds had been raised.

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Mr Luckett, who lives in Fareham and was made an MBE for his community spirit, said he was shocked by the break-in.

‘What happened was despicable,’ he said. ‘For it to have cancelled the dinner and dance would have been shocking.

‘In the past I have done a lot of voluntary work with disabled people. I just wanted to help them out.’

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Members of the disabilities group Creative Advances, based at Buckland United Reformed Church, Kingston Road, pictured after thieves snatched almost £2,500 from it.
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280621-80)Members of the disabilities group Creative Advances, based at Buckland United Reformed Church, Kingston Road, pictured after thieves snatched almost £2,500 from it.
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280621-80)
Members of the disabilities group Creative Advances, based at Buckland United Reformed Church, Kingston Road, pictured after thieves snatched almost £2,500 from it. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280621-80)

Mr Luckett wasn’t alone; others rallied to hand in cash donations to Creative.

Among them was a pensioner from Fareham, who travelled to the church in Kingston Road, Buckland, to hand over £100.

‘Her name was Nancy Healy and she was amazing,’ added Faye. ‘She caught the bus after reading The News’s article.

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‘I said to her, “you can’t donate that much, £100 is too much”. But she just told me, “I have plenty of money and this is how I want to spend it”. She brought most of my team to tears.’

Buckland United Reformed Church’s caretaker, Michael Mills, also donated £100, added Faye.

And support has been given, too, by Daniel Cleeve-Evans, manager of ALS Locksmiths Ltd in West Street, Fareham.

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He intends to donate a safe to help the disabilities group keep their cash more secure in the future.

Mr Cleeve-Evans added: ‘What happened was thoughtless… we just really wanted to help where we can.’

As previously reported, police are investigating the break-in, which took place between 4pm on Friday and 8am on Saturday. Those with information can call 101, quoting 44210251174

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To donate to the online fundraising page, see justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Creativeadvances

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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