A charity is fighting to keep its head above water after it was hit by flooding twice in six months.
Pavilion in the Park is on the brink of survival after the devastating events.
Run by Eastleigh Youth and Community Trust, the charity is now striving to recover its losses – amounting to £7,000.
Emma Golby-Kirk, CEO of the Trust, said important reserves from their bank account have been used to salvage the building, but she fears it may not be enough.
A fundraiser has been launched to help cover the cost of the repairs.
She said: “We don’t have any spare cash so we are really close to the wire.
“It is a worry we will flood again, but it’s not if, but when.
“The question is, how fortified can we be? We cannot afford to flood again.
“Will we hold out until Spring?”
READ MORE: Recreation ground flooded following heavy rainfall
Sitting on a flood plain, the charity’s base in Kingfisher Road has been prone to flooding in the past.
But none so detrimental as the recent floods in September 2023 and at the start of January this year, the latter which Emma said was ‘catastrophic’.
And with the charity serving a variety of age ranges – including 50-100 children per week – it is vital they stay afloat.
Emma said: “On the second occasion the river nearby burst its banks ahead of time.
“The water even came through the fire doors, past our flood barriers.
“It is really difficult for us to stop the water coming in. Our carpets were sodden.
“Our insurance company told us we are not covered, so we can only afford to replace one carpet.”
Despite the challenges faced, moving the Trust to another location is not a viable option.
Emma said: “I don’t think it would be easy for us to move our base, we still have 35 years on the lease.
“Our home is here, so I don’t think moving is an option.”
She added: “We don’t have the luxury of time.
“If we flood again the water will come in through the air bricks, undermining the foundations of the building. We can’t stop that.
“The water will come in and wreck the carpets again.
“We are in a climate now where every charity is struggling and we don’t want to close.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/f/pavilion-on-the-park-flood-fundraiser to support the fundraiser.
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