Charity centre covered in graffiti by mindless vandals

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 the walls all around the building.

Kevin Bradley, director of the centre, said the damage could cost St Wilfrid’s thousands of pounds to clean.

He said: “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 from people in need, it’s just horrendous. I just don’t know how someone could do that.”

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

Kevin said: “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.

“I’m not sure we can even afford to have it removed and if we do, they might just come back and do it all over 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.

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

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