A charity helping people with sight loss says Christmas has been saved despite a tree falling on its hall during Storm Darragh, putting their main venue out of commission.
Southampton Sight was originally expecting to cancel all of its ‘vital’ festive events after a tree smashed into the roof of their charity building on Bassett Avenue on December 7.
While the hall remains out of use until the new year over fears of structural damage, chief executive Jackie Powers said the charity has received ‘so much support’ and that a selection of venues have offered to host their parties.
“Though we have had to cancel our events this week, Christmas will go ahead next week as we are now visiting venues that have been offered and we are sure we will something suitable,” Jackie said.
READ MORE: Fallen tree cancels 'vital' Christmas bookings for charity as storm wreaks havoc
Southampton Sight is still unaware of the full extent and cost of the damage.
Tree surgeons were on site December 8 and on December 9, a crane and cherry picker attended to lift the tree trunk off of the roof.
But the charity now has to wait for a structural engineer to assess the damage so that remedial works can begin, but the hall is not expected to reopen until 2025.
A group of university students and disabled children should have been in the hall at the time of the tree’s fall, but a neighbour ran round to put a note on the door after noticing the tree shifting.
“We are just so grateful that no one was hurt and we look forward to being ‘back to normal’ in the new year,” Jackie told the Echo.
Southampton Sight is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
READ MORE: Three trees collapse at St Mary Extra Cemetery, Southampton during storm
The charity should have seen off a milestone year with a bang with a host of festivities for guests with sight loss, but the events will now have to take place elsewhere.
Jackie previously told the Echo: “We can’t do anything in that building now, you can’t take any risks with anything.
“It’s been so crazy and saying things about how we’ve lived through World Wars and governments, saying whatever happens we survive. But this is a real test with us.
“We do great support that keeps people away from the hospital, but we don’t get recompensed for that.”
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