Kirkcaldy charity Men's Shed in urgent need of new premises after second break in

Kirkcaldy and District Men’s Shed has suffered yet another setback as heartless thieves struck for the second time in as many years, stealing all of the its tools and equipment from Ravenscraig Park base.

The sickening theft happened last Wednesday.

The charity, which tackles social-isolation and contributes to community development projects, operates from three sheds within the park’s Walled Garden and has been searching for a new home for the past two years.

With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the group is unable to meet at the sheds as maintaining social-distancing is impossible, meaning that if new premises are not found, it may fold.

Margaret Smith, secretary said: “After the sheds were broken into two years ago and searching for a new building to call home, and now with the break in last Wednesday we are at breaking point.

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/scarecrows-set-take-over-fife-village-popular-annual-event-2946462

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/civic-conversation-why-id-rather-stay-home-kirkcaldy-2948263

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/markinch-teenagers-waging-war-litter-secure-support-continue-fight-2949002

"We have been in discussion with Fife Council to try to find a suitable building that we can move into, but it has been a slow process.

"If the council does not find us new premise,s the group will fold. Most of us are pensioners and we are at the end of our tether – it really rips the heart from you.

"The group is in agreement that we will not be putting anymore equipment in the sheds, as, heartbreaking as it is, we will not give up.”

Blake Smith, committee member, was at the premises on Wednesday to inspect the damage.

He said: “The thieves took everything apart from a band saw and a big lathe.

"We haven’t sat down to tally it up yet, but I would say it can’t be far off £10,000 of tools and equipment that was stolen.

"The police have been to inspect the sheds and a forensic team has taken fingerprints, so hopefully they can catch whoever is responsible.

"We are quite a small group, but a lot of people have been in contact about joining us, but what are they going to come to now? It takes years to build up a collection of tools like that.”

Donald Grant, Fife Council community manager said: “We will continue to work with Kirkcaldy Men’s Shed in its endeavour to find new premises. We realise that it may be frustrating for the group as several buildings that it has expressed interested in have not been suitable.

"It is unfortunate that the search is taking so long but we will continue to communicate with the group to identify a suitable property.”

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspapers - the Fife Free Press, Fife Herald, St Andrews Citizen and East Fife Mail.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press