DONATIONS have flooded in to help a charity for disabled people targeted by heartless thieves last week.

Generous town businesses and residents have rallied round Phoenix Enterprises, after thieves stole thousands of pounds worth of IT equipment during a break-in on May 24.

The Swindon Robins Speedway team donated a cheque for £750 with an anonymous Good Samaritan gifting a staggering £1,000 in cash to the charity. In total more than £2,000 has been donated.

Mike Bowden, CEO of Swindon Robins, handed the cheque to staff and service users at their Groundwell Industrial Estate offices.

“Even with criminals there’s an unwritten rule, and it’s beyond the pale that someone would do this to a charity, it’s just wrong,” he said.

“I’m delighted to be able to help in this way. We’re a community sports club in Swindon and Phoenix are a strong part of the community. When I saw it on the front page of the Adver my heart went out to them.

“People in the community helped us when we needed support and we are delighted to be helping Phoenix get back on their feet.”

Emma Rees, chair of the charity, said she was overwhelmed by the support shown to Phoenix.

“Since it appeared in the paper, we’ve had people walking in to help us, giving donations and TVs, laptops. We are so overwhelmed.

“It’s absolutely amazing, it does make me proud to be a Swindonian. The community has rallied behind us in every which way and made us all so happy again.

“I couldn’t believe it when the money kept coming in and we are so grateful, it’s incredible.”

Phoenix was broken into in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Thieves forced their way into a warehouse, and smashed open cupboards and drawers.

They ransacked the charity’s computer room, stealing donated iPads, iPhones, Toshiba, Macbook and Acer laptops, a printer, two Bauer TVs along with £345 in cash.

Darts were also thrown into a wall and yellow powder paint trekked through the warehouse.

The theft also threw the future of the annual summer trip to Weston for the 34 services users, into jeopardy.

But Emma said thanks to the donations, the future again looks bright for Phoenix.

“The trip to Weston is absolutely back on, we will do it in style. Everyone here is so happy again and it means the world to us,” she said.

Phoenix supports people recovering from mental health problems such as depression and bipolar as well as autism, Asperger’s and people with learning or physical disabilities and those struggling to find jobs.

The charity works towards employment by giving service users the opportunity to learn new skills and forge new careers.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.