During the Easter period, we launched The Egg Hunt competition, where supporters could win a £5,000 donation for their cause, courtesy of TUI. Nigel, a supporter of Sparkle Appeal – Newport, was the expert egg finder and we were delighted to sit down with Tracey, fundraising support officer at Sparkle, to talk about their services and how the prize will be put to use. Sparkle Appeal have to date raised just under £6,000 via easyfundraising, thanks to supporters shopping online.
What do you do at Sparkle Appeal?
Sparkle supports children and young people aged 0-17 years with disabilities and complex needs, and their families, living in Gwent. We ensure children and young people are fully supported and have access to the same range of opportunities, life experiences and activities as any other child and their family. Sparkle is the official charity partner of Serennu, Nevill Hall and Caerphilly Children’s Centres, supporting children, young people and their families from Newport, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Monmouthshire.
How many families and children do you provide support for, and how?
We support nearly 1,000 children and their families across our catchment areas. Sparkle delivers specialist leisure activities for children who cannot access mainstream leisure settings, such as youth clubs, play clubs, and swimming sessions. The children we support have medical, behavioural, personal care and communication needs and many require 1:1 or even 2:1 support. We also provide holistic support for the child’s whole family, from emotional and practical support for parents and carers, liaison between families and health, social care and education services, to fun events for children, siblings, parents and grandparents.
How do you feel about winning £5,000?
We were absolutely thrilled to hear the news that we had won £5,000, thanks to Nigel who is one of our amazing easyfundraising supporters! We rely 100% on donations, fundraising and grants to support our work, as we receive no statutory funding. We are currently experiencing huge demand for our services, and extreme financial challenges, as our costs increase, so this extra funding is very gratefully received.
What is Sparkle Appeal currently fundraising for, and how will the £5,000 help?
At Sparkle, we need to raise £800,000 per year to continue our services. The £5,000 will help Sparkle continue providing specialist leisure clubs to the children and young people who attend our centres 6 days per week, which have been described as a ‘lifeline’ for children with disabilities, and our support for families.
We are currently seeking funding (via easyfundraising and other channels) towards our accredited swimming lessons, which support children with disabilities to learn a lifesaving skill. Lessons take place in a hydrotherapy pool, which is extremely important to our children and young people who require access to a specifically heated pool due to their medical conditions. It is highly beneficial to those with mobility issues and also providing a quieter, less crowded environment which benefits those with sensory difficulties.
A final word from Nigel, on winning £5,000 on Sparkle’s behalf
“I am absolutely delighted that Sparkle has won this money, at a time when they are really struggling to fund their vital services. This £5,000 will mean children with a disability or learning difficulties will now have the opportunity to enjoy activities and clubs that other children take for granted.”
Huge congratulations to the team at Sparkle Appeal for their win, and a big well done to Nigel too! You can support Sparkle Appeal via easyfundraising or find out more about their work on their website. All photos courtesy of Treasured Memories Photography.