A CHARITY well-being centre in Basingstoke has been left reeling after an attempted burglary, the second in less than a year.

Staff at the Andover Mind Well-being Centre in Vyne Road, South View, were shocked after they discovered that people had forced entry into the centre overnight on Wednesday last week with three locked office doors being broken through as well as filing cabinets and cupboards being forced open.

Even though the intruders had managed to gain access to the inside of the building, it is believed they injured themselves smashing the glass in some of the doors, leaving blood on the carpet.

However, the unwelcome visitors did not take anything from the centre, as staff do not keep money in the premises after a previous burglary last winter saw money for a Christmas party stolen.

Chief executive officer of Andover Mind, Debra Ramchurn, said: “We do not understand why individuals would target our premises, we keep no cash or drugs in the building.

“Our charity is dedicated to supporting the local community with anything related to mental health, and it hits us all hard when we have to deal with such destruction.”

Staff were stunned with the scene they were confronted with when coming into the centre on the Thursday morning.

Doors had been forced open and damaged, which meant the centre has had to board up the primary entrance round the side of the building. Some of the cabinets which were forced open are now damaged in such a way that they no longer open properly.

Debra added: “We will now be faced with a repair bill and are concerned that we will have to divert funds that would otherwise have been spent helping those in need.”

The wellbeing centre offers a range of services to support people with mental health issues, offering a base from which care and support is given to increase self-esteem, manage mental distress and promote self-management.

The services provided are personalised with individuals being supported to develop their own interests in the community.

Andover Mind supports people in their recovery from serious mental health problems but also provides advice and information and services to help prevent the onset of mental health conditions.

After the incident, Debra sought to reassure the community that the facility is still open.

She said: “All of our services will be operating as usual, don’t be put off by any temporary boarding up, we are still open for business and you will be welcomed with our usual smile.”

The police were called and took evidence from the scene.

Andover Mind is asking neighbours or anyone nearby who might have any information to get in contact with the police on 101, quoting the reference 44180181992.