A ‘tired and disused’ library at a Norfolk village school has been given a new lease of life. 

Hickling Infant School’s library has been refurbished thanks to a £2,166 donation from local employer WSG Energy Services (WSGES) which supports multiple operators at nearby Bacton Gas Terminal and employs 10 staff at its Great Yarmouth facility. 

The 28-pupil school near Stalham has transformed what was described as a “void space” into a welcoming and inviting library. 

Hickling School senior teacher, Abby Blake, said: “As a school, we recognise the importance of early reading and ensuring that our reading spaces and resources are engaging for the children. 

Great Yarmouth Mercury: WSG Energy Services’ Steve Jones with Hickling School pupils (left to right) Yasmin, Frankie, Rosie and Noa. WSG Energy Services’ Steve Jones with Hickling School pupils (left to right) Yasmin, Frankie, Rosie and Noa. (Image: WSGES)

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“We are so very grateful to WSGES whose generous donation has allowed us to transform what was a void space into a warm, welcoming and aesthetically pleasing library area."

The money was used to purchase soft furnishings, new book storage and seating for the children, and contributed towards the purchase of new fiction and non-fiction texts from the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre near Aylsham. 

“Our library hadn’t been updated for some time and was therefore high on my agenda and consequently, thanks to WSGES’s contribution, it has been given a new lease of life and we now have an excellent learning resource which will benefit children of all ages," Ms Blake said.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The library at Hickling Infant School has been refurbished thanks to a £2,100 donation. The library at Hickling Infant School has been refurbished thanks to a £2,100 donation. (Image: WSGES)

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Local painter and decorator, Mr Gilroy, painted the library, with materials donated by Dulux, which allowed more of the donated funds to be spent on furnishings and books. 

At the beginning of the academic year, the school recruited four school librarians.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A donation from an energy company has given Hickling Infant School's library a new lease of life. A donation from an energy company has given Hickling Infant School's library a new lease of life. (Image: WSGES)

Steve Jones, WSGES European Regional Director, said: “We are happy to support local communities where we are engaged in operations and projects, and in the case of Hickling School we were delighted to be able to help towards delivering what will clearly be a well-used and valued asset for young pupils.”