New dates announced for Milton Keynes play sessions postponed after theft of van and equipment
The Milton Keynes Play Association (MKPA) has announced new dates for sessions that were postponed after thieves stole a van it had hired along with large amounts of equipment.
The children’s charity was forced to postpone scheduled play sessions at Westcroft Pavilion and Medbourne Pavilion after thieves broke into its base on Kiln Farm late on Tuesday August 18.
A spokesperson for the charity told the Citizen how the criminals had ‘cleaned us out of play equipment’, after breaking into the van and driving it away.
The charity announced in a post on its Facebook page that its session at Westcroft Pavilion will now take place on Wednesday August 26 between 9.30am and 11.30am, with a second session later the same day at Garthwaite Pavilion between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
The first of two planned sessions took place at Medbourne Pavilion earlier today (Monday), with a second due to be held on Thursday August 27 from 9.30am to 11.30am.
MKPA set up a GoFundMe page to help it recover from the setback of the thefts, and at the time of writing it has raised more than £2,000.
Among the items stolen were a bouncy castle and its blower and brightly-coloured sports and play equipment, with the items stored in the van at the time of the theft valued at around £10,000.
MKPA was launched in 1971 to provide play opportunities for children and has now evolved into a charity which provides play equipment for hire, a scrap store, a craft shop and training for teachers, carers and parents.
MKPA has been contacted for comment.