Charity steps in to help scout group after thief steals fundraising money

Children from the Lord Mayor’s Own Scout Group in Bootham, York, were devastated when about £800 raised from packing bags at Morrisons in Foss Islands was taken from their Scout leader’s car.

The club faced closure as the money had been needed to fix its dilapidated Scout hut roof. However, the charity’s donation now means they have made significant progress towards their £4,000 target but still need to raise a further £3,000.

The Little Society, which was recently set up to support causes working with children in York and North Yorkshire, came forward after reading about the children’s plight in The Press.

Elyshia Mortimer, assistant scout leader, said: “We had tears when they found out the money had been stolen but now the children are going to be over the moon.

“There’s no way of repaying them and that’s what makes the gesture so heart warming.”

The Little Society said it intended to work with smaller or more low-key organisations for children and young people which might not get the funding and publicity they needed.

Canon Linda Ali, secretary of The Little Big Society and canon of York Minster, said it was pleased to be able to help and the charity was keen to stay in contact with the Scout group. She said: “The charity is designed to help children and young people locally. Everybody talks about supporting children and young people, but for us it’s about doing the thing.”

The money was taken on December 20 when Group Scout Leader Tony Wilcox briefly stopped in Fifth Avenue while dropping off a friend and the window of his car was smashed and cash taken. Mr Wilcox believes someone had followed him from Morrisons and knew the money would be in the car.

Lord Mayor’s Own Scout Group is one of York’s oldest Scout units and has about 60 members aged from six to 14.

If you would like to donate money towards helping the Scouts raise the remaining £3000 needed to fix the roof of their hut, please phone Elyshia on 07594920664.