'Disgusting', 'discriminatory' graffiti and vandalism hits Lossiemouth's Ladybird Development Group
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MORAY'S only pre-school group for children with additional support needs (ASN) has suffered "awful" vandalism and discriminatory graffiti.
Group staff said vandals have damaged several pieces of the Ladybird Development Group's play equipment in the few weeks since the Easter Holidays.
The charity pre-school group, located by St Gerardine's Primary School, has seen its slide broken, play equipment overturned and boards torn from a wooden pirate ship
Co-manager of the group Zoe Sills said the spate of vandalism has led staff to ask themselves: "What are we going to find today?"
She said: "The staff work so hard to make the setting really nice for the children.
"We have had lovely parents and members of community who've either donated some of the items out there, or they've helped us with the fundraising to buy the items, or made items themselves.
"To see them damaged and not available for the children to use is really disappointing."
But the worst part, she said, was "discriminatory" graffiti left on a door within Ladybird's outdoor area.
"It's awful," Ms Sills said.
"It is disgusting language, and it's so sad that there's young people growing up with these sorts of things in the minds.
"It's really sad.
"Either they have never been exposed to people with additional support needs or learning difficulties, or they've picked up this discriminatory attitude and language from adults around them."
Ms Sills believes young people are breaking into Ladybird's outdoor area, through a "broken through and trampled down" section of hedge.
The charity's outdoor areas are covered by a CCTV system shared with St Gerardine's, but limited time and resources mean that sorting through footage has been a struggle.
And the only way to stop future incidents, Ms Sills believes, is secure metal fencing the group cannot afford.
"You can see where they're climbing in but, short of having very expensive metal fencing put up, we can't stop them getting in at the moment," she said.
"That's the really annoying thing.
"We just feel like we're at the mercy of so many different issues.
"We would really like somebody who can put up secure fencing to come and say: 'We will do that for you and help keep your space safe.'
"That would be amazing.
"I'm not saying it'll keep everybody out – somebody will surely climb a fence whatever we do – but it would definitely help."
In the wake of the vandalism, which Ms Sills shared to social media on Thursday, May 29, the community was united in showing support for the charity.
"The support since I put that post up has been absolutely phenomenal," Ms Sills said.
"People have been so kind, contacting us and saying: 'Do you need help? Do you want us to come and fix anything?'
"That's absolutely amazing.
"But, sadly, it doesn't take away from the fact that this is an ongoing problem.
"I have to thank all the people in the local community who have spoken out in support, shared the post and raised awareness that way.
"That's been amazing to see and it's really lovely to feel like we've got the support of the local community."
Members of the public reacted to the vandalism in comments underneath the Ladybird Group's social media post.
One Facebook user writes: "This is so sad. I hope the culprits get caught.
"My granddaughter has benefited so much from this group in the past like so many other children."
Another writes: "Absolutely mindless!
"It's a constant struggle just sustaining the group day to day without having to deal with this.
"Just what do they get out of it, destroying kiddies play equipment?"
Others were also quick to offer whatever support the group needed to sort the damage.
The Ladybird Development Group is accepting financial support through their JustGiving page.
Moving forwards, the Ladybird Group hopes to use the incidents as an opportunity to engage with Lossiemouth's young people to improve awareness and understanding of ASN.
The charity plans to work with a local community group which works closely with young people.
"What we really want is to find out who did it, but just so we can engage with them and invite them in to meet our children," Ms Sills said.
"To see the work we do, to talk to families and to understand that people with additional support needs exist in our community.
"The impact of causing problems like this is something they need to be woken up to."
