The clear-up has been underway at Victoria Centre on Sussex Road in Southport after a break in and theft this weekend just weeks before Christmas.
The former Victoria Methodist Church premises has been rented by the Compassion Acts charity, which runs services including Southport Food Bank, for the last 18 months.
It has been a base which has enabled the organisation to help many local people with their debts or benefit claims and is the base for the charity’s modest number of paid staff.
However over 180 volunteers are supported and trained from this location.
The charity’s CEO Richard Owens said: “It was a shock to be called out last weekend and to see the mess.
“It’s going to cost us around £2,000 to put everything back to how it should be.
“Two laptops and some petty cash were stolen. It is damage to the door and ceiling that will take the most to put right.
“Thankfully we have data secure due to a password protected system have and Im proud to say we have a very resilient team. Merseyside Police have been very professional.”
He continues: “Its given us the chance to review our security and we have already put some new measures in place with more security systems planned for the next few days including additional Police community patrols.”
Victoria Centre has most recently become a Warm Space for a twice per week session and is free and open to all on a Wednesday 1 till 3 and Saturdays 11 till 1.
Compassion Acts is the local grassroots charity which runs the Southport Foodbank, its own network of 5 Food Pantries and advice and support services.
If anyone wants to support the charity’s work, please see our website for ways to get in touch at www.compassionacts.uk/donate
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