Community spirited businessman raises £4,000 for Sheffield youth club during lockdown

Semi-retired builder Chris Ledger from Norton set up Not The Charity Shop on Chesterfield Road in Woodseats, with all proceeds to support the nearby Double Six Youth Club on Scarsdale Road, which has been open to young people for 54 years.

He said: “I retired from business hoping to put my feet up but after a while I became restless and started looking for something to do.

“I’d heard of the great work done with eight to 16-year-olds at the club. It’s an institution round here and so I decided to support them from my sales – so far we’ve raised over £4,000.”

Chris, who has been helped by six volunteers says the shop has been closed during the lockdown but that hadn’t stopped supporters donating.

"People have just been amazing,” he added.

The Double Six was opened in 1967 by Frankie Vaughan and is now led by Richard Hey and a team of dedicated local volunteers.

The club has had a difficult year losing income from room hire and kids subs.

“It’s been a tough year for the club and all the young people, many of whom have had their own mental health issues during Covid-19,” Chris said.

“It’s somewhere for kids to meet up and socialise and get support with mental or sexual health issues - it’s brilliant.

“Woodseats is a great community. Everyone pulls together."

The Double Six has also had support from the shop next door to Chris. Owner of Unit Home & Hardware, Angie Joel, has raised more than £2,000 from a percentage of her sales of face masks during the lockdown.

Not The Charity Shop is open every day except Thursday and Sunday, from 10am until 4pm and accepts clothes, books, DVDs, pictures, bric-a-brac and collectibles. Volunteers welcome.

The Double Six Youth club opened up again on April 12, and sessions will go ahead with Covid-19 measures in place.

For more information, visit www.double6youthclub.co.uk/