Arson attack destroys charity equipment in Redditch

Oct 2 2008 by Paul Bradley, Birmingham Mail

ARSONISTS have destroyed more than £50,000 worth of sailing equipment which has helped thousands of terminally ill children take part in water sports.

Redditch charity Youth Afloat saw five specialist boats and a floating pontoon completely devastated after “senseless” vandals set fire to their lock-up.

Now sailing instructors at the organisation say that it could take months for them to raise the money to replace the equipment and allow disabled children back on the water again.

General manager of Youth Afloat, Alex Cockshutt, said: “We are utterly shocked that someone could do this. The saddest part is that hundreds of disabled and life-limited children will now miss out.

“One of our biggest groups is from the Acorns Children’s Hospice but now many of the kids who would have come sailing with us may not be alive by the time we replace the equipment.”

The equipment destroyed included a £10,000 pontoon and hoist which helped disabled children into boats, three specialist access sailing dinghies worth £6,500 each and two £7,000 bell boats that helped children get in and out of the water.

Now, the charity is appealing for donations to get the facilities up and running again as soon as possible.

And police have urged anyone with information about the blaze, which happened between 9pm and 11pm on Saturday, to come forward as they continue their hunt for the arsonists.

PC Richard Thomas, of Redditch police, said: “Our investigation into this incident is ongoing and we would urge anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area on Saturday evening to pass their information on to police as soon as possible.”