Broseley charity hit by burglars bounces back with celebration
A community group which was targeted by thieves at the weekend has turned upset into celebration, after opening their latest facility.
Broseley Life Skills has set up a poly tunnel where its users will be able to grow their own produce, thanks to a lottery grant.
The organisation is run by mother and daughter 57-year-old Joanne and Leanne Horler, who said they were "gutted" about the burglary.
Power washers, a hammer drill, a chainsaw, and a Makita drill were all taken in the break in.
But on Wednesday, Broseley Life Skills still managed to celebrate the installation of its new poly tunnel at its base at Posenhall Farm, which will help expand the skills classes it is able to offer.
The pair bought it two weeks ago with a grant of £10,000 from Awards for All National Lottery Fund.
It will be used to grow things that people attending the centre can cook in other workshops.
Leanne, 28, said: "It was a lovely afternoon, obviously everything happened on Sunday dampened our spirits but having everyone coming together was brilliant."
The event was attended by some of the service users, volunteers who have helped set up Broseley Life Skills and local councillors, who also enjoyed tea and cake.
The pair moved the operation into the unit in March of last year, setting up the business after they were both made redundant from their work at a residential care home in Wellington after a number of years.
They started running some cooking workshops in Joanna's home but quickly out-grew the space and now run classes on Tuesday and Thursday for about seven people a time who are sometimes referred by social workers.
Some of them are people who are going to go on to live independently and are given life skills to help them.
Joanne added: "We decided to set up Broseley life skills in Sept 2015 as we found more and more people in our rural town and surrounding area had nowhere to go and partake in activities unless they travelled miles away.
"The building was an empty shell as you can see by the photos, since March 2016 Leanne and i have worked extremely hard to get the building refurbished, doing most of the work ourselves with celling and wall insulation, new flooring, multi fuel log burner, radiators and running hot water, kitchen area, craft area, fully decorated throughout.
"We have also used the land to the side of the building by creating a seating area and sensory garden with water feature
"We also arrange events in our local community and surrounding areas for people with additional needs, mental health and dementia who need that bit of extra support to improve self-esteem, confidence, self-worth and general well being.
"We are also looking at opening at the end of September as a tea room on Fridays and Saturdays."
