Anyone who has ever been the victim of theft knows how gut-wrenching and frustrating that feeling can be. But when an organisation that has put as much effort into helping local people as Fagley Youth and Community Centre has is hit by thieves stealing much-needed equipment, the feeling reverberates around the whole community.

The centre provides a place for people on the Fagley estate, ranging from eight-year-olds to pensioners, to come and meet up, enjoy the resources and take part in activities. Unfortunately, some of those activities will now be affected by the theft of a number of items following a break-in.

Included in the thieves’ haul was musical equipment including guitars, amplifiers, a speaker and a mixing desk, along with gardening equipment and computers. The items taken were worth thousands of pounds.

This must have been a real kick in the teeth to those who have worked so hard to get the centre up and running over the last couple of months. But rather than take their bat home, they plan to carry on regardless. The centre’s open day next Wednesday is still going to go ahead to show the community what they are able to offer.

It would be nice if the centre saw a large turnout from the community in recognition of what is being offered here. It would be even nicer, if unlikely in the extreme, if the thieves were somehow persuaded to return the items they took in time for that event.

Ward councillor Dorothy Wallace says the people living on the estate refer to themselves as ‘forgotten Fagley’, and praises those involved in the community centre for turning it around. So their determination to carry on despite this setback is extremely gratifying.

Those responsible for the theft could learn a lot from such a commendable sense of community spirit.