'Devastating' break-in at Failsworth charity HQ

Date published: 16 October 2018


Staff at the Hollinwood Business Centre-based Ace Centre charity are reeling after another sickening break-in at their Albert Street, Failsworth, headquarters.

Ace Centre is a national charity providing specialised services for children and adults with complex disabilities who need technology to enable them to communicate. 

Anna Reeves from Ace Centre told us: "This is the second break-in we have experienced now.

"Despite enhanced security to our premises, we have lost a considerable amount of specialist equipment that is used to assess children and adults who are referred to our services. 

"Consequently, we are currently unable to provide these services to people with little or no speech, who are reliant on our support to enable them to communicate. 

"Typically, this includes children and adults with lifelong conditions, such as cerebral palsy, and acquired conditions such as stroke or brain injury or degenerative conditions such as motor neurone disease or multiple sclerosis. 

"The impact of this on our staff team is considerable – we are a team of dedicated, highly skilled professionals who all care passionately about our work and the difference we make. 

"Losing this specialised equipment is heart-breaking in itself, but now being unable to provide the high quality services we aspire to deliver is devastating."

Ace Centre's head office is in Oldham and they have a second office in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. 

They provide assessment, training and information services across the country, which are delivered by teams of specialised speech & language therapists, teachers, occupational therapists and technicians. 

Police are investigating the cruel break-in.

Anyone with any information should contact police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.