'We'll rise from the ashes with your help' - Volunteers at arson-hit Dudley community centre hopeful for future as community rallies together
"We have been overwhelmed by the support from the community" - That is the message from volunteers at the arson-hit Dudley's Fens Pool Community Centre.
Around 20 firefighters went to the site off Tennyson Street off Chapel Street in Pensnett near Brierley Hill shortly after 4.30am on Tuesday after the fire alarm was triggered by smoke and flames.
It is believed that suspected arsonists were to blame for the fire which appeared to have started near a tree at the rear of the premises causing tens of thousands of pounds damage and a fun day to be cancelled.
The incident immediately prompted an outpouring of support with around 70 residents turning up at the scene to lend a hand to get the clean up operation under way at the centre which is owned and operated by the Fens Pool Voluntary Association.
An online fundraising page has also been set up towards the cost of replacing the roof and carrying out repairs with the aim of "helping put a smile back on faces". It has already raised more than £2,500 within 24 hours.
Association chairperson Rebecca Spittle is part of the team which took over the running of the activity centre three years ago. She said: "I'm still in shock. I'm absolutely gutted by what's happened because we've put so much into the place.
"I could sit here and write book about what items were in the storeroom, they may be small items, but is was three years worth of stuff that we bought, or what was donated and now it's all gone.
"We are devastated that this has happened, but with the support of the community we can rise from the ashes and come back bigger and better. It was 100 per cent a deliberate attack. But we're not going to let them beat us.
"We're all gutted and at the moment we're hoping that the insurance will help us so we get the roof on and the activities up and running again.
"The community came together to shift the rubbish which was great. The water was up to our ankles and once the fire crews left we had to get all the debris and water out. We didn't want the floor to be ruined. We'll be checking the items that we've salvaged to see if anything can be saved.
"We'd done most of the clearing out now and the floor is drying out. If we can get the roof fixed with the help of the community that alone would be amazing. We've so many lost things including our DJ equipment that was donated by volunteer Callum Nock. He used to come and put on discos for us. There's no receipts for that so we won't be able to claim on the insurance for that. This means we will need a lot of help from the community to replace everything."
The group said it was grateful to Brockmoor and Pensett ward councillors Steve Edwards, Alex Dale and Karen Westwood who all called in to lend support. And to the group's former chairperson Sharon Gwilliams who launched the Go Fund Me page on the group's behalf. To donate visit gofundme.com/f/reconstruction-of-fenspool-cc.
The association's vice chairperson Tracey Bowen said: "After the fire was put out , we didn't need to call for help because the community came to us after reading about it on social media. We have been overwhelmed by the support so far from residents and businesses. MT Skips came round and offered us skips to remove the fire debris. As soon as one skip was full they picked it up and brought another for us to fill up.
"We had members of the public just turning up and volunteering to lend a hand, people came offering tools like shovels to help with the clean up. And we've had builders offering to help. This morning firefighter Tipton station's watch commander Chris Green, who actually fought the blaze yesterday, returned with his young son to help tidy up and to make a donation. We've even had elderly people coming along too which was amazing.
"At least 70 people turned up yesterday. They included a group of young kids who use the centre turned up dressed in homemade t-shirts after they organised a car wash and garden clean ups which raised £180. They brought the money to us afterwards. Another young lad donated £50 from money he earned doing landscape gardening with his dad."
"The assessors are due to visit early week and in the mean time we're focussing on collecting raffle prize donations and lots of people are putting forwards fundraising ideas. There are also plans for entertainment nights to be held in the near future to support the cause."
