Police are investigating a suspected arson after a community workshop charity's property was damaged in a fire. A decking and seating area was set ablaze at the Clevedon Men’s Shed this week in the North Somerset area.
The suspected arson happened at around 7pm on Tuesday, April 19, and at around 12.30am the following day. The charity, which can be found behind Clevedon Community Centre on Princes Road, is run by a group that encourages men to meet and socialise to overcome loneliness and to work on community outreach projects.
Pictures uploaded to Twitter by Clevedon Fire Station shows the charred remains of the building after flames ripped through the building. A Gofundme page has been set up by the charity to help them rebuild the facility.
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David Young, the secretary and trustee of the charity, wrote: "It took us three years of hard work by mostly elderly retired men to turn a patch of land from a tip into a perfect area for meeting and socialising to overcome loneliness and social isolation. We are asking for donations to help us clear the damage and rebuild our decking, seating overhead pergola, an outside work station and a timber store. We will do the work ourselves."
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: "An investigation is under way into a suspected arson which damaged property used by a community workshop charity in Clevedon. Offenders set fire to a decking and seating area at the Clevedon Men’s Shed, behind Clevedon Community Centre in Princes Road. The incidents happened at around 7pm on Tuesday, April 19, and around 12.30am the following day.
"The charity is run by a group for men to meet and socialise to overcome loneliness and to work on community outreach projects. This year the charity helped to purchase a defibrillator for local community use.
"We’re appealing for any information which could help us identify the offender(s), including anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious around the area of the community centre in the timeframe the incidents occurred. If you can help, please call us on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5222092911."
You can donate to the Gofundme page by clicking here.
