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Cestria's boost to beat thieves at youngsters' allotment

14/07/2010

Cestria Community Housing has stepped in to help youngsters after their allotment was hit by thieves who stole all their gardening tools.

The Chester-le-Street housing association and building specialist Rok have teamed up to provide new equipment and build a secure storage shed on the allotment in Great Lumley.
 
Lumley School ShedEarlier this year, the young gardeners were left devastated after thieves stole spades and forks from a shed on their allotment. For the last two years, around 140 pupils from Lumley School, Great Lumley, have been visiting the allotment each week to work on their vegetable patches and lay the beds for plants.
 
The allotment, donated by Great Lumley Parish Council, was targeted by thieves in May when they made off with equipment valued at around £100.
 
Cestria Community Housing and Rok are currently working in Great Lumley on a fencing project as part of the external home improvement programme which was promised to tenants during transfer. When they heard that the children’s equipment was stolen, they decided to step in and help the school.
 
Customer services relationship manager at Cestria Community Housing Lisa Coverdale, said: “The children were left devastated. They took real pride in developing and maintaining their allotment - it’s just awful that somebody could do this.
 
“We got in touch with the school and offered to replace the equipment and to improve the security of the shed to help prevent this happening again in the future. It was marvellous to see the smiles on the children’s faces when we presented them with new equipment and shed.”
 
John Kindred, Business Development Executive at Rok Newcastle, said: “When Cestria advised us of the situation, we visited the allotment and agreed to replace the garden shed and line the walls for extra security. New locking attachments have been fitted and the new shed is much more secure. Looking at the allotment and the pride the children take with their work, Rok were extremely pleased to help.”
 
School Headteacher Angela Vear said: “Following the very upsetting news of the burglary at our allotment, it's wonderful that Cestria Community Housing and Rok have been so generous in replacing the shed which will keep our equipment safe in the future. It really helps the children to understand community spirit and shows them how we can support one another. We are very grateful for the help we have had and would like to thank the companies very much.”
 
In their final week of school term, a poster competition has been organised around the theme of security and the winning design will be made into a sign for the allotment.

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