Homeless charity shop in Hartlepool gets new look thanks to NCS youth programme

National Citizen Service young people with group leader Annie Game (rear left 23) in front of one of the newly painted murals in The Cracket, Wynyard Road, Hartlepool. Picture by FRANK REID

Thirteen school leavers spent four days giving a fresh lick of paint to The Cracket second-hand shop in Wynyard Road, Hartlepool, that supports homeless charity Cornerstone.

The charity provides emergency and halfway accommodation for homeless people, as well as providing them with the opportunity to learn woodwork skills to make furniture, which they then sell in their shops.

National Citizen Service member Reece Wilde putting the finishing touches on the newly painted mural in The Cracket, Wynyard Road, Hartlepool. Picture by FRANK REID

The young people were all part of the National Citizen Service programme that gives 15 to 17-year-olds the chance to learn new skills and make a difference in the community.

The group, called Team 16, then held a coffee morning and bake sale in the shop to showcase their work and raise money for the charity.

They chose the Cracket as their Social Action project after learning about its work.

NCS team leader Annie Game said: “They painted the shop and furniture to make it more appealing. They also bought lots of things to make homeless packs for women including toiletries and sanitary items which they gave out during the coffee morning.

“The people in the shop said it was fantastic and that they were really well behaved and it was nice to see kids that age acting maturely.”