On Monday 3rd March at 8:20pm a handmade hamper, one of our Easter Raffle prizes, was stolen from our Centre. This hamper was generously crafted and donated by one of our dedicated volunteers. As a small charity reliant on grants, donations, and fundraising to continue our vital work, this incident was deeply disappointing. We run a variety of raffles throughout the year including Valentines, Easter, Summer, Halloween, and Christmas. We are blessed with volunteers who create amazing hampers for prizes including handmade items as well as donated goods so they are at no cost to our Centre and all the monies raised are reinvested back into our Centre. The raffles are often very popular and raise between £350 - £500 each time.

Following on from this incident, the police were informed, CCTV footage provided, and we have revisited our security protocols and remain committed to serving our community despite this setback. We are humbled by the response to the post which went out online, a response which was defiant and demonstrated that there is a lot of goodwill in our community. We are grateful for the donations and ticket sales which have been received. 

The good news is that the prize has been replaced, and we have been been gifted an additional hamper thanks to our friends at Breathing Space Therapeutic Services and our Easter Raffle will go ahead as planned. The raffle draw will take place on April 16th, and tickets can still be purchased here: https://www.dorothyparkes.org/Event/easter-raffle-2025.

We appreciate all the kindness and generosity shown by our community. Your support helps us remain open and continue providing much-needed assistance to those who rely on us. If you’d like to contribute, whether through a donation, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, we’d love to hear from you.

Donate here

Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can continue to make a difference.

We would also like to stress that the centre is here to provide support for those in need. Our free Soup and Social, Community Fridge, and referral services are available to help members of our local community during challenging times. We encourage anyone in need to reach out and take advantage of these essential resources.