The blaze tore through the 81-year old’s shed, tools and sentimental belongings at Nicholson Field allotments, leaving him with a dangerous structure and piles of waste. John, who regularly donates his harvest to The Hospital of God Foodbank, also lost crops due to the fire.
Having first been made aware of the incident on social media, Thirteen’s estate service area lead, Nadine Stead, stepped in to action straight away. She said: “As soon as I heard the news, I knew there was something we could do to support.”
Liaising with Hartlepool Borough Council to ensure safe access for vehicles and equipment, Nadine arranged for a team of volunteers from Thirteen’s estate team to meet John at his allotment early in the morning to clear debris, safely dispose of rubbish and help restore the space.
John Hall (centre) with Thirteen estates team members (from left) Anthony Crangle, Ed Lester, Nadine Stead, Jack Towers, Ian Turnbull and Waz Bashir.
Thirteen also donated a selection of tools, to help John set back up when he felt ready to do so.
John Hall, of Hartlepool, said: “I can’t thank Thirteen enough for the support they have given me after hearing about the fire. My allotment gives me a reason to get up on a morning, and I feared I’d never restore what I’d lost.
“There’s work to do, but thanks to Thirteen and the local community, I now have hope that I can rebuild again.”
Since the devastating event, John has also received support from neighbouring plots, and the local community have raised funds for a new shed.
Nadine continued: “This is what community is all about. When someone in our area is struggling, our colleagues don’t hesitate. They show up, they help, and they make a real difference.”
Thirteen remains committed to supporting its residents and building strong communities, showing that small acts of kindness can have the biggest impact.
You can also read the story on Hartlepool Mail and Teesside Live.