Yahoo News Residents rally behind charity shop after nasty 'hope you fail' letter
Bocking Lane residents have said the author of a nasty ‘hope you fail’ letter signed off from a ‘Residents Unite’ group on the road should be “ashamed” of themselves.
The angry handwritten letter , which arrived through the letterbox of Kreate in Sheffield last week, said the sender did not “encourage charity shops” and hoped the “shutters would soon close” for good.
It went on to say: “A lot of businesses needed by communities have failed and I hope yours does too. Another grey painted trendy tak. Soon to be countdown for you. Shutters will be permanently down.”
The letter had been signed off by “Residents Unite (Bocking Lane)”. While online searches provided little evidence of the group's existence, Yorkshire Live headed out to Bocking Lane to see if we could track down the elusive group.
Bocking Lane is just a three minute drive away from where Kreate’s shop is located on Hutcliffe Wood Road. The charity behind the shop provides life skills and occupational training for people with learning disabilities aged 16 and over.
Residents certainly didn’t seem “united” in their views of Kreate - or express any hopes that it would fail for that matter. Many said that while they have heard of a Neighbourhood Watch or Residents Unite style group operating in the area, which they receive monthly newsletters from, they do not agree with the content of the letter. They said that whoever did write it should be “ashamed” of themselves and clearly “has too much time on their hands.”
One woman said: “I’m not sure who runs it. I occasionally get a letter through the letterbox from them but it’s disgusting to hear what they’ve done.” Another man, who lives on Bocking Lane, said: “Living here myself I certainly don’t agree with what they’ve done. I don’t know who runs the group although I do get newsletters from them occasionally.”
One woman said: “That’s horrible to hear, and it’s even worse that people around here will now be associated with that,” while her neighbour added: “We do get letters through from then every now and then but that’s dreadful to hear what they’ve done, they should be ashamed.”
Another resident said: “I haven’t heard anything about that at all but that’s horrible,” and their partner added: “I don’t know what would motivate someone to do something like that - it sounds like they have too much time on their hands." One woman added: “We get newsletters through from time to time but I’ve not heard anything about anyone who actually runs it.”
Another man who lives on the road said: “I get letters through from the neighbourhood watch group. They probably arrive about once a month but to be honest with you they usually go straight in the bin.” The owner of Kreate has since said the overwhelming level of support, and publicity the letter has gained, has helped turn the letter from a “negative into a positive” for the charity .
The letter prompted a “shock” reaction online and was met with an outpouring of support from people from as far away as America, as well as those living in Sheffield who claim the note “backfired” as they are going to actively visit and support the shop.
The identity of the ominous ‘Residents Unite, Bocking Lane’ group remains unknown.
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