News & impact

Read the latest news and insights from Spark Somerset and other community groups and charities from across the county.

Filter:

A group photograph of the people who participated in the British Sign Language sessions.
Impact story Community space Disability Equality, diversity & inclusion

Supporting community-led British Sign Language sessions in Yeovil

What happens when communities are given the chance to shape activities they actually want? “I was just so...

Read more
Impact story Children Community space Families Working together Young people

Purple Elephant: a place to belong

Purple Elephant was built on a simple belief: everything Frome has to offer should be for everyone. Frome...

Read more
Impact story Children Community space Equality, diversity & inclusion Families LGBTQ+ Working together Young people

2BU: what happens when someone believes in you

Belonging, validation and trusted adults. Lisa Snowdon-Carr started as a volunteer. She's now the CEO of 2BU."Be careful...

Read more
Impact story Children Community space Families Working together Young people

HYPE: a model that works

HYPE (Hestercombe Young People Evolving) is what place-based collaboration looks like when it's done properly. Everyone connected to...

Read more
A photo of volunteer litter-pickers posing with red litter bags outside of Birchfield Community Centre
Impact story Community space Conservation Volunteering Working together

More than a meeting: how Birchfield is growing together

In Birchfield, residents are working together and making positive changes in their community. Over the past two years,...

Read more
News Working together Young people

Somerset celebrates the impact of youth work

Special event showcases youth work, training achievements, partnerships and young people’s voices. Earlier this month, over 70 youth...

Read more
A photo of a group of children and adults standing together and smiling at the camera. There is a table covered in colourful bunting in the foreground.
Blog Advocacy Fundraising Working together

Helping smaller charities in Somerset get the funding they deserve

How listening turned insight into impact - creating simpler, fairer funding opportunities for smaller charities in Somerset. At...

Read more
A photo of a blonde woman in a red, Stand Against Violence t-shirt, engaging with learners at a training session
Impact story Domestic abuse Education & skills Leadership & management

Stand Against Violence: stronger leadership, safer futures

How funded leadership training helped Operational Manager Aimee McKean grow in her role and steer Stand Against Violence...

Read more
Photograph of Tracey Mock and two other course attendees, they are sitting alongside each other in a village hall and smiling at the camera.
Impact story

Shifting gears on skills and confidence

“Being a small charity, funds aren’t always available for training on the ‘less important’ topics, such as improving...

Read more

Add Spark to your inbox!

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest voluntary sector news, events and opportunities, and read past editions here