Generosity sees 'faith in human nature restored'

COMMUNITY RALLIES AFTER CHARITY'S £50K MINIBUS DISMANTLED BY THIEVES

- By SUE KIRBY

A SCHOOL for autistic children has been "overwhelmed" by the generous response to a break-in which robbed a vulnerable 12-year-old boy of a lifeline minibus.

Staff at The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre, run by the North East Autism Society (NEAS), were devastated when a hooded raider broke into the Middlesbrough school last week.

The thief dismantled the £50,000 Ford Tourneo, stealing the bonnet, engine parts, and tyres, causing £16,000 of damage. It is primarily used to transport a pupil called Caleb to and from the South Bank school, as well as take him on trips to local attractions, leisure facilities, and parks.

However, the losses have been covered by a magnificent community response, led by The Teesside Family Foundation, which came forward with a £10,000 donation.

A further £1,500 was donated by the Wainstones Hotel, at Great Broughton, while additional public donations were made through a GoFundMe appeal.

Caleb's mum, Sarah Bowman, set up a separate appeal page and raised £420. She said: "The Mackenzie Thorpe Centre has helped and supported our family in all ways possible.