COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Callous thieves have stolen two vans from Myton Hospice – halving its retail fleet and affecting income at the busiest time of year



The hospice has four vans which are used to transfer donations from its Distribution Centre in Coventry to its 25 charity shops, and to collect or deliver furniture to and from supporters’ houses.

But thieves targeted the Distribution Centre on Herald Business Park, Golden Acres Lane on two separate occasions – leaving the charity with two vans at the busiest time of year for its shops.

‘Devastated’ hospice bosses say the loss has left them incapable of keeping up with donations over the festive period.

The first theft happened at around 9pm on Thursday December 6 when a Mercedes Sprinter van was stolen. A blue Ford Transit was seen on CCTV towing the van away.

The second incident happened at around 6pm on Saturday December 15 and saw a second Sprinter van towed away by a white and green Ford Transit using the same registration plate.

Hospice spokeswoman Charlotte Ingram said: “It is devastating enough that someone would target a charity like Myton which supports people with terminal and life limiting illnesses. For it to happen so close to Christmas, a time which is meant for love, peace and sharing, is even more upsetting for everyone at Myton.

“This has a substantial impact financially on Myton, as well as directly affecting our ability to collect donations from the public at a time of year where many more people are buying from our shops and making donations. We implore anyone who has any information about the thefts to contact the police.”

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call 101 and speak to officers.

Email charlotte.ingram@mytonhospice.org, call 01926 838837 or click here to donate to Myton.

Hospice receives double the donations it hoped for on Giving Tuesday



MYTON Hospices is giving three cheers after doubling up on Giving Tuesday.

The charity joined forces with others across the globe as part of a fund-raising campaign which urges people to think of those in need during the festive time of year.

And while the hospice – which has sites in Warwick, Coventry and Rugby – hoped to raise £3,000, staff were left delighted after more than £6,000 was donated.

The money will be enough to pay for two Myton home nurses to visit two patients for a month.

To help boost donations – which were mostly made through the charity’s website – staff sold chocolate bars, collections were held at various shops and Alveston Choir donated £150.

Charity spokeswoman Charlotte Ingram said: “We would like to say thank you to everyone who helped us to raise such a fantastic amount on Giving Tuesday.

“You all have helped make sure we can continue to be there for more people and their families when they need us most this Christmas.”

* MYTON Hospice’s Warwick shop has undergone a makeover.

The charity shop on Brook Street has been refitted and decorated to showcase its items off.

And its Coventry branch on Jubilee Crescent has recently reopened as the charity’s first clearance shop – with every item on sale for £1.

Volunteers are needed to lend a hand at the hospice’s 25 shops across the county.

Visit http://www.mytonhospice.org/shops to find out more.

Tyres stolen from Coventry Myton Hospices vans in serious setback for charity



TYRES have been stolen from two Myton Hospices vans, leaving the charity with only one vehicle to distribute to its 27 fundraising shops.

The alleged incident happened on Friday (May 10) at the charity’s distribution centre in the Herald Business Park, Gold Acres Lane, Binley.

The charity – which runs end of life care services – has been the target of a string of thefts, including having two vans stolen last December.

A charity spokesperson said: “After having two vans stolen we were incredibly thankful to have been gifted a replacement for one of them and our retail team have been operating with three vans instead of four ever since.

“Sadly, between 11.30pm and midnight on Friday, May 10 thieves struck again stealing six tyres from two of our vans.

“We are all incredibly sad that we have been the victim of another theft.

“Every year we need to raise over £9million to continue providing our services free of charge for people in Coventry and Warwickshire with terminal and life-limiting illnesses and their families.

“We rely on sales from our shops to raise at least £2million of this and we need our vans to transport stock and collect large donations.

“It is heartbreaking for everyone at Myton to think that someone would knowingly steal from a charity.

“With just one vehicle to cover our 27 shops across Coventry and Warwickshire, the team are asking for people’s patience at this time with furniture collections and deliveries.

“If you want to support Myton you can donate good quality, saleable items to your nearest Myton shop or at one of our three hospices, or find out other ways to donate and fundraise here.”

The charity has three hospices in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick, and has the only inpatient units in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Every year the charity supports more than 1,400 people and their families, in its three hospices.

It provides patient and family support services and community care through ‘Myton at Home’.

'Heartless' thieves target hospice van



"Heartless" thieves have stolen a van from the Myton Hospices distribution centre in Coventry.

The charity centre was "ransacked" on Sunday, said chief executive Ruth Freeman.

It comes as the hospice had been appealing for more financial help with its 27 shops across the region temporarily closed amid the coronavirus crisis.

It is the third time in 15 months that the local charity has been targeted in this way.

The vehicle that was stolen on this occasion was donated by a local business in response to a plea for help following a previous theft.

We are shocked and saddened that someone would do this, particularly when we are already struggling with the financial impact of coronavirus whilst trying to maintain vital services for our patients and their families."

Ruth FreemanChief executive, Myton Hospice