Latest news with #ChrisHalliday
STV News
22-07-2025
- STV News
Local community backs charity fundraiser after lifeline van damaged
The founder of a Glasgow charity has said his faith in humanity has been restored after a local community backed a fundraiser to repair a delivery van that was vandalised. Chris Halliday, founder and chief executive of the Halliday Foundation, discovered one of his delivery vans smashed up after a meeting in Dennistoun on July 16. 'I just couldn't understand why this had happened' Chris told STV News. The charity was getting ready to move into the area and provide furniture to social housing tenants, as well as food packages and fuel vouchers to families living in poverty. But, after their vehicle was vandalised, the charity was forced to cancel and postpone vital services. The Halliday Foundation 'There was a family sleeping on the floor, and we were supposed to bring them beds. We had to cancel and get it done at a later time. 'We already have a huge backlog of people waiting for our help as well as 25 to 30 referrals a week, and that's just for furniture.' The charity launched a GoFundMe to ask for funds to make up an insurance excess of £250. Chris told STV News that the response from the Denniston community has been 'reinvigorating' with all the money needed raised within a week. Chris Halliday Chris said, 'The vandalism wasn't a good welcome to the area, but we've had a lot of response from the community. 'We've gotten calls asking to please still come and provide our service – that people still really need our support (in Denniston). 'Most have come from the local Denniston community, and we had others phoning in to provide support and donations. 'It's been really reinvigorating.' Police Scotland said it is investigating the damage. STV News is now on WhatsApp Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Daily Record
Cruel vandal smashes poverty charity's van in targeted 'hammer' attack
The Halliday Foundation said they were left 'saddened and frustrated' by the incident. A cruel vandal carried out a hammer attack on a lifeline van owned by a poverty and homelessness charity in Glasgow. The Halliday Foundation chief Chris Halliday was in a meeting with a housing association when the incident took place on Duke Street, in the city's Dennistoun area, at around 4.15pm on Wednesday, July 16. Chris, who watched the moment unfold on CCTV, said a man riding an orange bike struck the van's windows with a 'hammer' before leaving the scene. He said it was a 'malicious attack', and confirmed nothing was stolen from the vehicle. Chris, 35, told the Record: "I just could not believe it. You don't expect it to happen. I opened the van door and the window just smashed and fell on the road." "It was someone on an orange bike. He just stopped at the van, took a hammer out of his jacket and hit the wing mirror with it, then hit the window before cycling away again. "I definitely think it's targeted and malicious. It's not as if it's someone who just thinks 'I'm going to smash a van', because surely you wouldn't hit a charity van." Pictures taken in the aftermath of the incident show the extent of the damag e, with the street and the van's interior left covered in smashed glass. The damaged motor has been taken off the road, causing delays in delivering essential items to some of the city's most vulnerable people. Police Scotland are now probing the incident. He continued: "Yesterday there were four referrals going out, and some of them were beds for children who were sleeping on the floor because their parents had fled domestic abuse. "This has just slowed us down with referrals because we are so, so busy. We get about 30 referrals a week just for our Houses2Homes [furniture reuse] project." The charity is hoping to get the van repaired and back on the road by next Monday. With repairs costly and charity funds restricted, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help them cover the costs. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A statement on the incident posted on their Facebook page shared how the team felt "saddened and frustrated" to share the news. It read: "This van is not just a vehicle, it's a vital lifeline that helps us support some of the most vulnerable people in our community, from delivering food and essentials to transporting supplies for our projects & services." However, they thanked those who have stood by them, and assured that their work "won't stop" despite the circumstances. With the charity in the middle of a move to Dennistoun, Chris was concerned that the attack "wasn't a good welcome". However, he added: "The residents have been brilliant. People have been phoning up and sending messages telling us not to let it change our minds, and it was one of the residents who actually created the GoFundMe page, which was very kind." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We received a report of damage to a vehicle on Duke Street, Glasgow, around 5.30pm on Wednesday, 16 July, 2025. ' Enquires are at an early stage.' The GoFundMe page can be found here.
