SPARK Community Space makes an extraordinary impact on people’s lives, helping them feel connected in their community. They welcome anyone who feels pushed aside or overlooked by society, whether that’s because of illness, disability, redundancy or lack of qualifications.
SPARK received £5,000 from our Montagu Neville Durnford & St Leo Cawthan Fund, which focuses on support for people over 50, especially those with a naval background. SPARK’s community cafe, activities and initiatives have brought many people a sense of belonging.
Sandie Davis, Partnerships Co-ordinator at SPARK, tells us more...
We give people a place to belong, to be part of a community of support, to heal together and to spark back into life. We aim to help people rediscover their value and self worth.
We have a community shop where people can come and grow together, gaining skills through volunteering, accessing training in a supportive atmosphere and progressing towards regaining a sense of belonging in society.
We are incredibly grateful for funding from HIWCF which has allowed us to grow and develop our offer to the community. We don’t want there to be any barriers to people accessing our space and so all of our drinks, cakes and famous cheese toasties are offered on a ‘pay what you can afford’ basis. Our community has many regulars who access us as a warm space finding connections with others rather than being isolated and lonely. New people are always welcomed with a smile and the offer of a cup of tea, encouraging them to engage with others and find a place they can feel accepted and join a community.
A feeling of acceptance
Once someone feels accepted in the Spark space, there are opportunities for engaging in further activities, from craft and arty projects, to singing and chair exercise, we have regular drop informal visits from professional services to offer support and information in a friendly way, always looking out for further needs that could be addressed.
Local Social Prescribers refer people to us as they recognise that in a gentle, friendly way, we can allay fears, build confidence, re-engage connections and help people ‘find their Spark’.
HIWCF supports us in providing everything we offer, the services we have are very informal and can sometimes be overlooked as ‘just a cup of tea’, we are so grateful that HIWCF recognises the value of what we deliver and understand the needs of the community we serve. We depend on innovative, community minded supporters who grasp our aims and the outcomes we provide. HIWCF has allowed us to continue to offer drinks and snacks; to deliver creative sessions that help with dexterity and confidence; to bring in external services and expertise for entertainment and development.
Another huge impact is delivered by our team of volunteers from all walks of life and a wide age and ability range. We offer opportunities for people who have gained confidence by being part of the Spark Community to offer back as a volunteer for our cafe sessions. We have had people start as a visitor and then gain confidence through volunteering to actually engage in the world of work again!
A shared ethos
We seek to engage with other service providers in the city; for example, we host a drop in from the team at Rowans Hospice, as they don’t have a venue in Portsmouth, so they can offer bereavement service to the local community. We truly believe in the effectiveness of working together and we know this is encouraged by HIWCF, making them a funder and supporter we value as they share our ethos.
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