OUR
STORY
Spark UK was born from a rant in a cofee shop with friends.
In late 2020, 4 teenagers got together in a local coffee shop to rant about mental health in the education system. They had met while taking part in a mental health ambassador scheme within their school.
They were frustrated, angry, but most importantly, motivated. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, they saw the urgent need to change how mental health was viewed and discussed in schools. They spent ages talking about what they would like in an ideal world: more relevant education, celebs talking about mental health, podcasts talking about the realities for teenagers. After much discussion, Conor proposed that with the group we had, and the passion we shared, we could do something about it. We could break the stigma and create a school culture that valued mental literacy.
In our first year, we launched the All Star Advent Calendar, featuring celebrities like Dame Emma Thompson, Basil Brush, and Sir Stephen Fry sharing their mental health tips. We also started delivering workshops in schools using our own personal, relatable resources, allowing us to connect with the students.
In year two, the All Star Advent Calendar grew. With even more high-profile names like Dame Judi Dench joining in, donations increased. This support allowed us to begin planning our next major initiative: The Spark Ambassador Project.
Along the way, while juggling schoolwork and running Spark UK, we were honoured to receive the Rotary Youth Volunteer Champions award and be named Coronation Champions. Attending the coronation concert and watching the King dance to Lionel Richie remains one of our fondest memories.
Each milestone has only deepened our commitment and sharpened our skills. We’re still here, still growing, and still driven by the same mission: to empower young people to talk openly about mental health and to equip schools with the resources to make early intervention possible.
