Exeter-based charity appeals for help after fire

CEO of Surf Life Saving GB, Esther Pearson, is in shock after the fire at the charity's Head Office at 19 Southernhay this morning.  Here she talks to The Exeter Daily about the challenges that lay ahead to prevent their vital work from suffering. 

"I would normally have been in the office at that time, but got in a bit later than usual because of half term. We arrived at 8.45am, by which time the fire crews were already there and dealing with the blaze. We are on two floors in the building and have suffered severe smoke damage, which means we will not be able to get back into the building for at least three months.      "We are still in shock from the incident. We were kindly taken in by IT Champion across the road, who look after our IT and were able to rescue our server after we were allowed back into the building at about midday. Although we are covered by insurance for damage to the building, we are not covered for interruption to business. This could have a devastating affect on the services we are able to offer. We train 3,500 people a year across the UK, and as this is our Head Office, much of what we do will be affected.  

"We urgently need to find alternative temporary accommodation, and we are hopeful that our landlord Alder King will be able to help us with that. However, it will mean immense upheaval and could cost in the region of £5,000, which we simply don't have. Also in the building are two recruitment agencies, RGB and Pertemp, as well as Meridian Taxation, who each have one or two staff on site, but we have 10 members of staff based there. Finding alternative accommodation is no mean feat. 

 

"We are coming into our busiest time, and use the winter months as the opportunity to train people to go out and train others the skills of life saving. We are the only governing body based in Exeter, and we believe the only one in Devon, but this is where we originate from and where we'd like to stay.

 

"We would like to send a plea out to the people of Exeter to help us carry on with our vital work. If anybody can help with temporary accommodation, or if a removal firm could step forward to help us move our things, we would be immensely grateful. We also require telephone connection and somewhere for us to meet. 

 

"If we aren't able to raise the funds needed or the assistance, we fear this could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. We were due to hold a lunch in a couple of week's time in order to thank the wonderful volunteers that keep our charity going, but at this moment I can't see how we will be able to organise it in time."

 

People can make donations via Surf Life Savers GB website http://www.slsgb.org.uk/ and contact Esther on the charity's temporary email address: siesta21@talk21.com