ACTION DESK CAMPAIGN: Can you help clean up St Wilfrid's graffiti?

Mindless vandals have scrawled graffiti on the walls of a centre for vulnerable adults '“ and a clean-up could cost thousands of pounds.

Shocked staff at St Wilfrid’s Centre on Queens Road, Highfield, were horrified to find the graffiti – which is several feet high – above a ledge near the roof of the building.

More tags had also been sprayed on walls all around the building.

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The incident happened over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Now, Action Desk is asking for a business or individual who might be able to help to come forward, as a costly clean-up would result in money being redirected from the charity’s much-needed services.

Unfortunately, due to the type of graffiti and because it is hard to reach, a professional cleaning service with access to scaffolding is thought to be required.

Equipment and cleaning products are more than the centre can afford.

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Kevin Bradley, director of the centre, said the damage could cost St Wilfrid’s thousands of pounds to clean and he is now appealing for help from Sheffielders.

He said: “Something needs to be done about it. If anyone can help us clean off the graffiti, please get in touch.

“It’s a massive building and I’m not sure how they got up there. It’s also worrying for security as if people can get up there, who’s to say they can’t get into the building.

“This centre is supposed to be a safe place for people to come to and for them to feel at home. To take that from people in need, it’s just horrendous.

“I just don’t know how someone could do that.”

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He said the removal of the vandalism could be costly to the centre, taking away money that should be used for more important services.

“We had a small patch of graffiti removed by the council a while ago and it cost about £100, so this could run into the thousands because there’s so much,” he added.

“I’m not sure we can even afford to have it removed and, if we do, they might just come back and do it again. This will take away money we need for other things.”

Last July vandals ripped out benches, tore up rose bushes and sprayed graffiti at the charity’s base.

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Kevin said: “This area is really bad for graffiti, especially along Queens Road. It’s all over Halfords and other shops.”

If you or your business can help please contact Action Desk by emailing [email protected] or calling 0114 2767676 ext 3523.