THE SPARK ARTS FOR CHILDREN

Registered charity 1106952 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE SPARK CHILDREN'S ARTS FESTIVAL

The Spark gives children opportunities to immerse themselves in the arts by experiencing a wide range of high quality work that inspires, empowers and educates. Through an annual festival, cultural education & community programmes and production of our own work we offer children the space to discover their own skills, passions and potential, as audiences, participants & creators of their own art.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£534k

Latest spending

£376k

Registered

2004

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £119,766, which is above the stated policy target of three months of unrestricted expenditure. The charity reported a net income surplus of £157,647 for the year, with total funds reaching £325,425, indicating a stable financial position.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Charitable activities (58% of income)

“Grants & donations - 301,861 301,861 218,790” — page 21

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three months of unrestricted expenditure (held: £120k)

“The minimum target for reserves to be held is currently established as an amount sufficient to maintain ongoing operations and programmes measured for a set period of three months.” — page 10

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Spark Arts for Children (matched by registered charity number).

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram · linkedin

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income

£534k

Total spending

£376k

Reserves (reported)

£119k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~3.8 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Michael Candlerchair
Dr Patricia Bennett
Jasbir Mann
Mahmood Reza · trustee of 1 other charity
Ruth Lee
Suzanne Laura Guthrie

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Leicester City · Leicestershire · Nottinghamshire · Rutland

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£534k	£376k
31/03/2024	£447k	£432k
31/03/2023	£553k	£614k
31/03/2022	£705k	£621k
31/03/2021	£407k	£389k

Common questions

Is THE SPARK ARTS FOR CHILDREN financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £119,766, which is above the stated policy target of three months of unrestricted expenditure. The charity reported a net income surplus of £157,647 for the year, with total funds reaching £325,425, indicating a stable financial position. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE SPARK ARTS FOR CHILDREN?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE SPARK ARTS FOR CHILDREN as a grant recipient include THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH MUSIC, THE CARLTON HAYES MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY, DIDYMUS.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount
THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH MUSIC	FY2023	£150k
THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH MUSIC	FY2025	£120k
THE CARLTON HAYES MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY	FY2022	£5k
DIDYMUS	FY2022	£5k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	15/07/2022	£10k	Belgrave Community Festival Takeover
The National Lottery Community Fund	26/04/2019	£10k	Spark Festival Family Celebrations
The National Lottery Community Fund	05/12/2016	£6k	Beaumont Leys Big Celebration
The National Lottery Community Fund	06/05/2015	£10k	Tiny Sparks - improving preschool language development
The National Lottery Community Fund	09/12/2005	£5k	The Little Mermaid