'The community spirit is what's getting us up in the morning' - Manager of Edinburgh youth centre devastated by wilful fire responds to support

Susan Heron, who runs the Venchie Children and Young People's Project in Niddrie Mains Terrace, Edinburgh, said staff and volunteers were left feeling despondent after finding donations they had been collecting for months were destroyed in a wilful fire.

Food and toys collected by the organisation were ruined after a group of teenagers allegedly set fire to a bin next to the building's storage unit on Friday, 15 January, causing what is believed to be about £10,000 worth of damage.

But Ms Heron said she has been inundated with support from volunteers offering to help clean up the centre and replenish stock.

"We are able to carry on doing what we do because the support from the community has been phenomenal," she said.

"The morale has boosted so much over the last couple of days and the community spirit is what’s getting us up in the mornings to do what we do.”

The Venchie has been delivering food parcels to families in need in the area, as well as providing a host of other community work during the pandemic.

Ms Heron said the food destroyed in the fire would have fed “a substantial amount” of families.

"We feed the homeless, people who have been laid off work, vulnerable children and adults, terminally ill people, elderly people.

"I want these youngsters who are believed to have done the damage to come forward, apologise, and help us feed these people so that they can see the impact it's caused and understand there are people who really need our support.”

Despite the damage caused, Ms Heron said the small team running the Venchie are continuing to provide food for those in need in the community.

"We are working around the mess," she said.

"And we've had so many wonderful people offer to come in and help.

"The community is getting us through this.”

A gofundme page set up to help the centre has already smashed its £200 target and raised more than £1,600.

Officers are still looking to identify three teenagers who were spotted in the area at the time of the incident, all of whom are believe to be about 15 or 16 years old.

One has been described as a white male, slim and with short light brown hair who was seen wearing a dark puffer jacket with hood, light coloured trousers and trainers.

The second is said to be female, medium build with long blonde hair. She was wearing a dark body warmer over a light coloured jumper, light coloured trousers and shoes. She was also carrying a dark handbag.

The third has also been described as a white female, slim with long blonde hair. She was wearing a dark jacket and light coloured trousers and shoes.

Constable Gareth Deering, of Craigmillar Police Station, said: “This completely reckless act has resulted in key equipment provided for children and young people in the community being destroyed.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw any suspicious activity, or three teenagers matching this description.”

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