Littlehampton charity headquarters given spring clean

About 40 volunteers, armed with paintbrushes, brooms and hedge clippers marched into Evans Garden, in Arcade Road, to help brighten the home of Littlehampton-based charity, Raydar.

The community make-over, which was organised by homeless charity HOMElink in conjunction with The Body Shop, saw teams working around the clock to sweep drives, paint windows and walls, as well as building toy boxes and rewiring some of the building’s ageing electrics and plumbing systems.

Plenty of businesses in the town lent a hand for the day, too, offering discounted items, especially for the charity.

Deans Carpets, in Beach Road, provided the charity with new carpeting for its floor, while the Littlehampton and Chichester branches of builder’s merchants Travis Perkins, offered supplies for the inside and outside of the headquarters.

Wickes DIY store, in Broad Piece, also helped with discount supplies during the day.

Raydar chairman, Helen McCondach, was left overwhelmed by the generosity of all the people who took part during the day.

The 29-year-old said: “It’s just absolutely fantastic what everyone has managed to achieve, I couldn’t say thanks enough.

“The town is full of small charities and we all have to look out for one another. Our funding isn’t much, so to get all this help, during a difficult economic period, is brilliant.

“It shows that the Big Society is already at work in Littlehampton, and the community spirit is second to none.”

Raydar helps give advice and support to families with children or young people suffering from a disability.

Helen added that although the make-over was not quite finished, the work that had already been done would have an immediate impact.

“We’ve got a new garden area for the children to learn to grow their own vegetables,” she said. “We’re also hoping to install our own kitchen, too.”

The charity will be hosting an official opening ceremony for the building, on Monday, June 4, from 10am.

There will be plenty of family fun, from arts and crafts to a name the bear competition. Everyone is welcome to attend.