GOOD-WILLED donors have thrown offers of help to a cash-strapped play group hit by raiders.

Manpower and cash donations are being directed at Colchester’s Stepping Stones Play and Learn after the Gazette told how lead was stolen from the roof allowing the rain to flood in.

The play group, which cares for children with and without additional needs, was temporarily shut and left with partially flooded premises meaning electrical sensory equipment can’t be used.

The theft left the play group’s carpets and walls in need of replacing because of water damage following heavy rainfall.

Overwhelmed group founder Carol Nice said thousands of pounds and offers of DIY had come their way, after the Gazette told of the raid and days earlier of its financial plight to continue running.

She said: “We know we need a lot of funding to keep going but it is the kindness of these people.

“It is really humbling.”

One donor is Richard King, who runs the Reuse, Recycle, Repair shop in Queen Street, Colchester, who has offered his services to help with decorating and any other odd job.

Carol added: “He phoned up straight away and said was there anything we needed.

“A couple of members of the Community 360 charity have offered to get some paint and do some decorating for us.”

Carol said staff at Highwoods Tesco store have offered to help with a community project in the nursery garden and to donate cleaning products, while grandparents of former children at the nursery have donated money.

She added: “A parent has said she is going to do back to back half marathons over the next 12 months, she is gathering information to get ready to start.”

Although the premises is covered by insurance, that process means it will take longer to get the building back to suitable use.

Carol also said the incident could mean the insurance goes up which will put more pressure on Stepping Stones’ finances.

It needs £19,000 a month to keep going.

Meanwhile general cash donations have continued to come in after the Gazette told last week how the play group, based at the Wilson Marriage Centre in Barrack Street, warned it is facing a crisis and may have to close its doors for good unless it urgently receives donations.

Carol said a parent of a child who formerly attended told colleagues at his London insurance firm about Stepping Stones.

One colleague donated £1,000 in lieu of Christmas and birthday presents, while two others donated £1,300 and £600.

Stepping Stones Play and Learn has been offering respite for families through parent groups, play groups, nursery care and an after school club for nearly three decades.

The nursery has re-opened but the sensory room, with special lighting and a fibre-optic carpet, remains closed.

Sensory equipment is still drying out before the charity knows how much may need to be replaced.

The after- school club is running as normal.

The venue is leased from Essex County Council.

If you can help, call 01206 860467.

n Carpenter Paul Cunningham, whose son attended Stepping Stones, has offered to make two hardwood display boxes to be raffled off for Stepping Stones next month.

He said: “Our son went there when he was two and it was the right place form him and they helped us get him into Market Field special needs school, which set him up for the rest of his life.

“I have the skills to make something beautiful that hopefully people will buy a ticket for.”

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PaulCunningham19 to enter the raffle.