A CHARITY founder has slammed thieves who stole a collection bottle containing at least £400 from the bar of a hotel.
Nancy Williams, director of the StudioADHD Centre in Capel, said the money, which was taken from Gatton Manor Hotel and Golf Club on August 30, would have funded specialist care for eight children.
The centre, founded in 2001, provides a relaxed environment for children and young adults who have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and Asperger's.
Speaking to the Advertiser, Mrs Williams said: "It was a huge whisky bottle, not like the small ones we have inside shops sometimes, but a massive glass bottle with our label on it.
"It is really sad that someone could do such a thing, because as a small charity we rely on public donations; you just cannot understand it."
She added: "The money could have paid for 20 children to go on one of our activity days, such as fishing or climbing, or on getting eight children coming to our centre for private sessions.
"Even just to help with core costs would be great because as a small charity we have had all our Government funding cut and even printing and telephone bills are a big expense for us."
"I feel sorry for Gatton Manor because they and their members have been very good to us and hosted many events."
The bottle had been in the bar of Gatton Manor, in Ockley, since April after it was chosen by the golf club captains Nairon Khan and Kim Sutherland as their nominated "good cause of the year".
Gatton Manor spokeswoman Jo Nixon said the hotel was "incredibly dismayed and distraught" by the theft and would look to improve security measures.
She added: "The bottle was located within our bar area as a free-standing bottle organised by our members and we agreed to let them use our bar as somewhere to home it.
"We have always supported the charity and in light of what has happened we are offering a five-day membership for the charity to use for fundraising purposes."
A Surrey Police spokesman said: "Stealing from charity is a despicable crime. We are appealing to anyone who may have seen someone leaving the premises with the bottle or has any information about this incident to contact us. To reduce the risk of theft, I recommend that charity boxes are regularly emptied and kept secure."
Anyone with any information should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference number MV/13/3437 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
