Volunteers at a West Lothian community group were left devastated after discovering their entire stock of donated items had been stolen.
The Colliery Hub in Whitburn is a community group run by volunteers with the aim of bringing the local community together with classes and activities, and helping out people on lower incomes.
The hub was set up last year and the volunteers recently registered it as a community interest company.
But early last month, volunteers attending the hub found the sign outside the premises had been smashed and their entire stock of donated games, clothes, and toys – along with 20 tables – had been taken.
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Alex Smith, volunteer organiser at the Colliery Hub, said: “Everybody was deflated and we didn’t know if we would carry on, but so much hard work had gone into it we decided we couldn’t stop.
“We were really just finding our groove and the hub was really taking off.
“We were getting more volunteers, and we were discovering what was working for us in terms of what we were offering the community.”
The hub had to stop operating immediately after the incident but were able to restart on May 6 and are now quickly getting back up to speed.
“We are getting back on our feet,” explained Alex. “We’ve got the photography studio set up, our crafts group is going again and we’ve got the community garden up and running.
“The River Kids charity have generously kitted out our room for the mothers and toddlers group to restart too.”
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The Colliery Hub are having an official relaunch at a barbeque on June 8, when they will also relaunch their popular Whitburn League of Gamers events – where children and grown-ups play strategy table-top games.
More information regarding the Colliery Hub – including details of their barbeque – can be found by visiting their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Friends-of-the-colliery-hub-2214007495319656/.
Police Scotland are aware of the theft and are looking into it. A spokesperson said: “Police in West Lothian are investigating following the theft of various items from a charity premises in Dixon Terrace, Whitburn.
“The incident happened sometime between March 28 and April 11 and inquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to come forward and quote incident number 1089 of May 9.”
