Impact

Over the last decade the Spark Foundation has helped more than 1,000 young people in England and Wales that are in care or were formerly in care. The feedback we receive from applicants about our help makes it all worth it. Here is what some of our applicants have said about the impact the items we have funded have made on their lives:

  • Boxing has helped me so much. It is helped me with my mental health and keeping me busy and my mind off my troubles. I have too much stress, when I go to boxing, I forget about it all. It has helped me get fit and stay in great shape. I cannot thank you enough for the money to let me do this.

  • Thank you so much for letting me know about the award (for a washing machine and fridge/freezer). I truly can’t explain how much this will help me. I’m incredibly grateful to you and everyone at the Spark Foundation for the work you do supporting care leavers. When I turned 18 it really felt like the whole world suddenly stops caring, this support really means the world. Being able to have normal appliances and being able to wash my clothes properly instead of in a bathroom sink and having a fridge will genuinely make the biggest difference in my life. I’m very thankful to have been seen and chosen for this support. I truly hope that one day in the future, if I’m in a better position, I’ll be able to give back to the foundation and support the same life changing work you’re doing now.

  • Thank you all so much – the grant means an awful lot to my foster daughter, and will give her the opportunity to go on the trip of a lifetime to New York, which we as foster carers couldn’t fully afford.
  • Thank you so much for the update 🙏very much appreciated support available (in this case optometry equipment) from foundations that keep care leavers in mind with cost of education/ work and training it’s very reassuring and makes a big difference and impact on young people like myself.
  • ‘I am really grateful for Spark Foundation’s help… My house is going to feel like a home again’.
  • I’ve recently bought my first car after I passed (first time!!). I feel like I’ve finally transitioned to “adulthood” successfully, having a degree, job, car and enough money to pay my bills and put a roof over my head. It’s made me reflect on all the support I had in getting here and I just wanted to thank you as a team for the amazing work you do.
  • Thant you so much! This is amazing news – AK is a great kid who we are very committed to — the next year is going to be hard for him and we hope this Challenger trip gives him a path to follow for his future
  • Wow – thanks for this, it was completely unexpected and very appreciated. CC moved into her new flat last week and we’re having furniture delivered today. So she will be really pleased that she can now order white goods.
  • Thank you for taking time to look through my application and I really do appreciate the help (for flooring), I get to actually take one step more into making it a home which is fabulous.
  • Thank you so much, you really don’t know what these lessons mean to me and how they can improve the way I’m living and actually start to do things as an independent adult. I can’t thank you or the Spark Foundation enough for how this will change how I live my life, instead of being stuck in I can actually get out and see places I wouldn’t have seen, if I hadn’t learnt to drive.

  • Thank you very much for the cheque which we received today for £600. I am pleased to say that the digger training is booked. JJ is really thrilled that he is able to do the course and has the opportunity of a career in Groundwork.
  • Thanks to the support from the Spark Foundation, I was able to set up a proper work-from-home space with a raising desk, ergonomic chair, and a high-quality mouse and keyboard set. This has not only saved me a significant amount of money, but it’s also had a huge positive impact on my daily routine and wellbeing. As someone with ADHD, staying motivated and focused, especially outside of structured environments, can be really challenging. Before, I often struggled to get work done even after returning home. But now, with a dedicated and comfortable workspace, I’ve found a renewed motivation. I actually look forward to working from home and have developed a new sense of focus and excitement for my projects. This setup has truly gone a long way in supporting my productivity, mental health, and personal development. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the impact it’s already having. Thank you again for making this possible.
  • I can honestly say that since I have started regularly attending the life drawing classes I have begun to make friends… and thought less about ingesting harmful substances.