The Original Factory Shop in New Ollerton raises £400 for ln Sam’s Name
A charity dedicated to improving men’s mental health in and around Ollerton will benefit from hundreds of pounds thanks to generous shoppers.
The Original Factory Shop in New Ollerton has raised £400 at its Christmas Charity Fair for the ln Sam’s Name charity, a support group for men across Nottinghamshire.
The Christmas fundraiser saw Ollerton councillor Mike Pringle dress up as Father Christmas and present children with free gifts from a Santa’s Grotto, while a maker’s market includes stalls selling cakes, Lego keyrings, face painting by A Sprinkle of Glitter by Beth, and a unicorn hair braider.
Other highlights from the day included a reindeer trail where children had to find the hidden reindeer to claim a prize, a tombola and raffle, and a colouring competition for local schools, with all the designs featured in the shop window.
The Tyre Shop Ollerton, the Carpet Bargain Centre, and Nottinghamshire County Council also supported the activity.
In Sam’s Name is a registered charity and men’s support group which helps men in Nottinghamshire break the stigma of talking about mental health issues through regular meetings, walk and talks and workshops.
The charity was founded in memory of Sam “Sponge” Fisher, who died in October 2021, and the group encourages men to speak in confidence to one another and find support among the group.
They have regular meetings in Worksop and Retford but have also begun to operate in Ollerton on a fortnightly basis.
Carol Warriner, the store manager for The Original Factory Shop New Ollerton, said: “We are thrilled to have raised £400 for In Sam’s Name this Christmas, a fantastic charity that supports men break the stigma of talking about mental health issues.
“We would like to thank all the local businesses, colleagues and customers who have donated to this amazing cause.”
The Christmas fundraiser follows a summer event where the branch raised £500 for In Sam’s Name, raising a total of £900 this year.
Members of the local New Ollerton community who would like to donate to In Sam’s Name can visit its website, or head into The Original Factory Shop New Ollerton store.
Samaritans offer FREE round the clock, confidential support. Call 116 123, calls are free from any phone, or visit www.samaritans.org to find out about the wide-ranging support on offer from Samaritans and other organisations.
