CHARITIES which lost thousands of pounds worth of stock are slowly rebuilding and finding their feet again three-weeks on from a suspected arson attack.

An arson attack at the Billericay Community Hub, in Billericay High Street, left a number of charities based in the building distraught when the blaze destroyed the community centre on April 4.

The Billericay branch of Baby Basics, which lost almost everything they needed to help support families in need of clothing and essentials, was among the worst impacted alongside community supermarket Hope 316, which lost more than £30,000 of food and furniture.

Baby Basics manager, Jane Robb, has spoken of the incredible support the charity has received from the community which has allowed them to continue their vital work despite the devastation of the blaze.

She said: “We were destroyed, we lost absolutely everything.

“However, the Monday after the fire, we had been provided temporary accommodation in Chantry House next door and we put out a list of essential items we urgently needed for our referrals on Facebook.

“The community was amazing; it has been so touching that people saw that they could not allow this to happen to us the Chequers pub in Billericay High Street put out a charity collection for us and the Street Pastors and Waitrose and the Billericay Industry Group helped us as well.”

An arson investigation was launched by Essex Police following the fire, and two boys have been released under investigation.

Ms Robb said: “I don’t feel angry, we do know it is suspected arson and I have compassion for the people that did it, I forgive them completely and I don’t want this to ruin their lives.”

John Hailes, manager of Hope 316 community supermarket, has similarly tried to move past the fire that caused an 18-month project to be undone.

“We were based in the hub for years and were about to start a furniture sale project, selling furniture for a reduced price like with our community supermarket,” he said.

“We lost £30,000 of furniture collected over 18-months in the fire, we were hit really bad.

“It has been gutting more than a cause for anger, but it is a choice to forgive and I would rather do that and move on, though it can be hard to walk through that process.”

Mr Hailes added that “nothing keeps him down” and they are currently trying to replenish all they lost.