On Monday morning, we discovered that our charity’s main storage warehouse in Caerphilly had been broken into over the weekend.
Since then, we’ve done our best to assess the damage and losses. Gwent Police have attended the scene, and we’ve provided them with all relevant details. CCTV footage is now being reviewed as part of the investigation.
As far as we can currently tell, the following items have been stolen:
- Essential Baby Bank supplies, which were due to be distributed to some of the most vulnerable families across South East Wales
- Our bouncy castle, used regularly at children’s events and fun days to provide free, joyful activities for local families during the holidays
- A range of children’s and youth work resources, impacting directly on the delivery of our community-based children and youth programmes
- Lighting and sound equipment, which we use for concerts, special events, and community functions that bring people together
- Our red ride-on lawnmower, used in the past to maintain the grounds of our former site, and which we had hoped to repurpose at the new Trethomas Life Centre
The financial cost of these losses is substantial. At this stage, we estimate the total value of the stolen items may well exceed ten thousand pounds. But beyond the monetary cost is something even harder to measure, and that is the emotional and practical disruption caused by a crime like this, especially for a small charity like ours.
The Parish Trust doesn’t operate with vast reserves. Every item we hold is either purchased through hard-won fundraising or donated by someone who wanted to make a difference. When items are stolen from us, it has a direct impact on the people we serve – people who are already struggling and for whom these resources mean the world.
Sadly, our experience is not unique. According to a recent survey report, almost half of small charities fear they may be forced to close within the next 12 months. Financial pressures are mounting across the third sector, with rising costs, increasing demand, and unpredictable events like theft pushing many organisations to the brink. These are incredibly challenging times for charities, and yet we remain committed to standing firm and serving our community with everything we have.
This latest challenge comes at a time when we are preparing to open a new chapter in our story. On 1 August 2025, we will be opening the doors to the Trethomas Life Centre; our new youth, children, and families centre and a renewed home for the community of Trethomas and beyond. It has taken an extraordinary effort to get to this point, especially after the loss of our former premises and the many hurdles we’ve faced since. That’s what makes this incident all the more painful. But it also reminds us why this work matters.
We are now working with our insurers to see what may be covered, though the process will inevitably take time and may not account for the full value of what has been taken.
If you would like to support our recovery efforts, donations can be made securely via our website:
www.theparishtrust.org.uk/donate
If you have any information that might help the investigation, please contact Gwent Police and quote log number 445300625.
We also want to take a moment to thank the local community. Since the news broke, we’ve received countless messages of support and encouragement. People have shared the story widely, offered practical help, and have kept an eye out for the stolen items. That kindness and solidarity means more than we can say.
A special word of thanks as well to the Caerphilly Observer, our long-standing friends, who kindly reported on the incident for us.
I also want to pay tribute to our incredible staff team and volunteers. They are the reason our work continues, not just when times are good, but especially when things are difficult. Time and again, they rise to the occasion with resilience and determination. I know that even with this loss, they will pull it out of the bag once again and keep our projects running strong. I’ve found out that this has become a core part of our identity as The Parish Trust.
Despite this setback, our resolve remains strong. The opening of the Trethomas Life Centre is a sign of hope for the future, and is the culmination of the belief we have as an organisation that light still shines, even in the face of darkness. Thank you for standing with us.
