FUNDRAISERS have been started to replace school minibuses that were stolen from separate primary schools in Basingstoke and Deane over the Easter weekend.

Whitewater CE Primary School, in The Street, Rotherwick, had its minibus stolen between 9am on Sunday, March 21 and 2pm on Monday, April 1 in the first incident.

In a separate incident, a minibus was also taken from the grounds of Great Binfields Primary School, in Binfields Farm Lane, Chineham, sometime between 6pm on Sunday, March 31, and 2pm on Monday, April 1.

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Basingstoke Gazette: Great Binfields Primary School's bus was stolen after 6pm on Sunday, March 31

Now, Whitewater CE has started a Crowdfunder with a target of £5,000, which had raised £2,269, at the time of writing. 

The fundraiser was started by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at the school which says they ‘worked tirelessly to raise enough funds to provide a much-needed minibus to the school back in 2023’.

They added that whilst the vehicle was insured, they "know that we won’t receive enough to cover all the costs plus source", explaining that it was ‘hard to find’ and they had to drive to Leicester to find the minibus that was stolen.

Great Binfields Primary School launched a GoFundMe, with a target of £10,000, having raised £3,975 at the time of writing.

Sheonah Forbes, co-chair of the Friends of Great Binfields PTA group, started the fundraiser on behalf of the PTA.

She explained that the minibus’ insurance ‘won’t cover the cost of a new one’ and will only cover the monetary value of the minibus, which was old, meaning that there will be a deficit between the value of the stolen minibus and the cost of a replacement.

Sheonah added: “We are devastated, having previously worked extremely hard to fund this minibus through our school PTA, running events throughout the years.

“As much as we’re told this is quite common, it doesn’t make it any easier on our children, parents, or staff in the school who fund these things themselves.

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“We are very thankful and grateful for the amount raised, any donation no matter the quantity is amazing. It gives us a boost to be able to help the school get through the disappointment of losing the bus.”

The money raised for Great Binfields Primary School will also go towards the price of repairing damage to the school gate, which was tampered with to gain entry.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary previously told the Gazette that while enquiries are ongoing, they are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the thefts to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 44240136952.

There are reports that the Great Binfields Primary School minibus was discovered burned out and without an engine in Cufaude Lane in Bramley, but a police spokesperson said they are unable to confirm this.

To donate to the Great Binfields School’s fundraiser, visit gofund.me/444527c4 and to donate to the Whitewater CE fundraiser, visit cdn.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-us-replace-the-whitewater-school-minibus.