Stalham's Spirit

Stalham's Spirit - Pensioners raise community spirit and thousands for teens!

A remarkable, retired couple in Stalham, North Norfolk, have raised a staggering £44,500 since April 2009 to fund the installation of a Teens Recreation Area in the town.  Retired shop owners, Bill and Edna Woolsey, have previously raised funds to install a play area for the younger element - installed by Wicksteed Playscapes - and now want to give the local teenagers somewhere special to go, too.

The ambitious fundraising began from the Woolsey's home where they sold anything secondhand, literally until they ran out of space and could no longer store all the kindly donated items.  So, the couple's son, Roy, stepped in to help and together with additional support from the Town Council empty shop premises were offered so that the fund-raising project could expand.  Amazingly, the average weekly sum that the sales of furntiture, clothes, shoes, bags, books and all manner of bric a bric brings is £1,000!

Situated in Upper Staithe Road, the shop is run by Bill, 81, Edna, 76, and a number of much appreciated volunteers who all work part-time and include two husband and wife teams. 

Edna Woolsey commented: "I am thrilled at how much we have managed to raise over the last year as we have almost entirely relied on word of mouth for donations and footfall.  This isn't just a fund-raising project but has really brought the community together in a way I hadn't expected.  We don't have a final target and will continue with the shop indefinitely.  We hope to gain additional funding before we begin the teen project."

Wicksteed Playscapes was commissioned to revitalise the younger children's play area which includes a new Penang unit with a double slide from the Tropica range, a Tarzan Crossing and a Climbing Wall.  Further injection of raised funds will be put towards an extension of the existing skate park, a BMX track, older recreation equipment and ultimately, a number of outdoor exercise products for parents, grandparents and carers to use for keeping fit whilst their charges enjoy the adjacent play area.

The hand written sign in the shop window

Some kids enjoying a Wicksteed BMX track