Mystery £10,000 donation gives arts charity hope

The Hive is seeking £50,000 to keep running

An anonymous donor dropped into a charity to hand it £10,000, leaving staff "flabbergasted".

The Hive in Shrewsbury, a creative venue which runs projects across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, had said it needed to raise £50,000 to cover rising costs and energy bills.

Chief executive Katie Jennings, who said they had a funding bid rejected this week, added the donation was "heart warming" and that it had lifted spirits. "It gives me goose bumps just talking about it," she said.

The donor wished to remain anonymous but told the charity they loved what The Hive did for people of all ages.

The Hive said it had supported almost 50,000 children and young people through more than 200 different projects in its 19 years.

But Ms Jennings said funding had dried up and the charity was seeing increasing demand for its services.

The anonymous donor only dropped in briefly to hand over the cheque and Ms Jennings said: "There were several of us in the office and we were just absolutely flabbergasted and overjoyed."

Musicians and artists work with young people to help them more feel positive and confident

The donation, plus the £2,500 they were able to claim in Gift Aid, has taken the fundraising total to £16,500 and Ms Jennings said: "It feels like we've got some really good momentum."

More fundraising events were planned, she said.