What Spark Community Space does

Spark Community Space is a registered charity (Charity Number: 1191751) founded in October 2020 by Becki Simmons in Southsea, Portsmouth. It operates a single permanent community hub at Unit 12, The Pompey Centre, Fratton Way, PO4 8SL, opened 20 April 2023, which combines a pay-what-you-can-afford community café (the Cup of Kindness Café), a charity shop, creative and wellbeing sessions, and bookable venue space for groups of up to 50. The charity targets socially isolated and overlooked individuals — including those affected by illness, disability, redundancy, or lack of qualifications — and supplements its service with volunteer-led skill development programmes.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of donation streams: one-off and recurring giving (Pay It Forward at £6.50/month), corporate and individual sponsorship through the Spark Ambassador programme (£50/month), merchandise sales via its online shop (hoodies, T-shirts, varsity jackets, branded coffee and tea), ticketed fundraising events (the annual Summer and Spring Balls at £85/ticket), venue hire, and a podcast ('A Proper Cuppa Tea!'). The organisation relies on community-led growth, leveraging a network of 14+ local business ambassadors and strategic partnerships with Portsmouth FC and the Queens Hotel for the Spark Cup initiative.

The charity has no proprietary technology systems and operates standard web infrastructure (WordPress-based site, Mailchimp newsletter, Blubrry hosting, Easyfundraising and Work for Good integrations). It is governed by a board of trustees (Becki Simmons as Founder Trustee, alongside Louise Mant, Jackie Evans, and Harriet Layfield) and runs with a headcount in the 11–50 range. There are no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or external ownership.

Name

Spark Community Space

Legal name

Spark Community Space

Website

https://sparkcommunityspace.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spark Community Space is a Portsmouth-based registered charity operating a community café, charity shop, and wellbeing programmes on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis, targeting socially isolated and overlooked individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Community Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Community charity services
• Social isolation support
• Pay what you can cafe
• Volunteer community programs
• Charity fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Southsea, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The charity operates on donations and operates a pay-what-you-can-afford scheme. Monthly giving programme through ambassadors at £50/month. One-time donations accepted via CAFBANK. Easyfundraising enables supporters to raise donations through online shopping with over 6,000 retailers. Southdown Karate Club fundraiser raised £3,776.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including T-shirts (£15), hoodies (£27), varsity jackets (£35), beanie hats (£9), tote bags (£7), and Spark Coffee & Portsmouth Tea (£5.75-£19.75). Revenue supports the charity's operations.
3. Venue Hire and Event Tickets: Space available for hire for meetings and events for groups up to 50 people. Events include Spring Ball tickets at £85 per person (includes three-course meal, live band, raffle, auction). Cake & Kindness Book Club at £10 per session.
4. Community Café and Charity Shop: Operating a charity shop and community café half, open Saturdays 11am-2pm. Revenue from café sales and charity shop donations supports the charity. Pay-what-you-can-afford model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spark Community Space operates a registered charity community hub in Portsmouth comprising a pay-what-you-can-afford Cup of Kindness Café, an on-site charity shop selling donated goods and branded merchandise, venue hire, volunteering and wellbeing programmes (creative sessions, The Cake & Kindness Book Club), ticketed fundraising events (Summer and Spring Balls), and the Spark Cup Initiative in partnership with Portsmouth FC. The offering is targeted at individuals who feel socially isolated or pushed aside by society, supported by donations, recurring ambassador sponsorships, and trading income.

Product overview

SPARK Community Space is a registered charity (Charity Number: 1191751) operating as a community hub in Portsmouth, UK. The organization offers a unified portfolio centered on community support: a pay-what-you-can-afford Cup of Kindness Café serving hot drinks, toasties, and cakes; a charity shop selling donated items and branded merchandise (hoodies, t-shirts, jackets, bags, hats, and tea/coffee products); and regular community programs including The Cake & Kindness Book Club, creative sessions, and venue hire services. Major events include annual Spring and Summer Balls, with the Spark Cup Initiative (partnership with Portsmouth FC and Queens Hotel) offering branded cup donations. The Ambassador Programme enables monthly business sponsorships at £50/month. The organization generates revenue through donations, merchandise sales, venue hire, and the café, with all offerings designed to combat social isolation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Spark Cup: A tea and community initiative in partnership with Portsmouth FC and Queens Hotel where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea for a £10 donation and receive their own Spark Cup as a keepsake
• Cup of Kindness Cafe
• The Cake & Kindness Book Club

Products and services

• Cup of Kindness Café Pay-what-you-can-afford community café serving hot drinks, toasties, and cakes, operating Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11am-2pm as a welcoming space for socially isolated individuals.
• Charity Shop On-site charity retail space selling donated items alongside branded merchandise, with proceeds funding the charity's operations.
• Branded Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• August 2023: 958 drinks, 381 slices of cake, 637 toasties, 10 creative sessions served in one month
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Portsmouth FCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Through Portsmouth FC's equality, diversity, and inclusion programme, the club partnered with Spark to raise awareness about isolation. Created the Spark Cup initiative where visitors can enjoy tea and receive a Spark Cup as a keepsake for a £10 donation. Portsmouth FC shared its iconic logo for the cup's design, symbolising a city-wide 'hug'. Lina Small, Head of People and EDI at Portsmouth FC, stated the club aims to support a welcoming and inclusive space for all.
• Queens HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Partner in the Spark Cup initiative alongside Portsmouth FC and Spark Community Space. Committed to revitalising community spirit. Donates cakes weekly to support the café. Venue sponsor for Sparktacular Spring Ball 2026.
• The Island Tea & Coffee CompanyminorOthersRoasts the Spark Community Space Portsmouth Tea and Coffee products sold in the café and online shop. Provides ground coffee and beans in 200g and 1kg sizes, and Portsmouth Tea in 50 biodegradable tea bags.
• EasyfundraisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnables supporters to raise free donations for Spark every time they shop online with over 6,000 retailers. Major marketing and fundraising channel.
• Work for GoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership enables businesses to turn their work into good by raising funds through their sales for Spark Community Space. Breaks down legal barriers for businesses supporting the charity.
• MTK ElectricalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Biscoes LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Coastal KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Shine4U RecordsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Dwell DesignsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• SLR Marine RecruitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Home Instead PortsmouthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Zinq ITminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• ROK MarshminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Networks at Spark before opening. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• MountjoyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• GRP SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Beautiful Mind SupportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Hayes Plumbing HeatingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member and Spring Ball 2026 sponsor. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• BCA AccountantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• King Orange DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmbassador programme member. Displays SPARK logo on website and promotional materials.
• Queens Hotel and Tenth HoleminorOthersDonate cakes weekly to Spark's Cup of Kindness Café, bringing joy to the community.
• BNI, PBE, and Rok MarshminorOthersLocal businesses that network at Spark before opening. Pay full price for drinks, allowing Spark to offer drinks to those who may not be able to afford them.
• Walk the Island PortsmouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in podcast production. Thanks recorded in first podcast episode featuring Pompey Init Mush and Walk The Island.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Big Issue Foundation: UK social enterprise addressing poverty and social exclusion through vendor programmes and community hubs. Comparable operating model combining trading activity (magazine, café-adjacent services) with social inclusion outcomes.
• The People's Kitchen (Newcastle): UK charity running a community kitchen and drop-in services for people facing hardship and isolation. Directly comparable operating model (community café/kitchen + charity shop + volunteer-led services) addressing loneliness and poverty.
• Campaign to End Loneliness: UK charity focused specifically on loneliness as a public health issue, running community programmes and policy advocacy. Comparable in addressing social isolation through community engagement rather than clinical mental health services.
• The Bread and Butter Thing: UK charity running community food hubs that redistribute surplus food via affordable membership. Comparable in combining a community-facing physical hub model with charitable trading and donor-funded expansion.
• The Marmalade Trust: UK charity dedicated to tackling loneliness through awareness campaigns, community support, and direct befriending services. Closely comparable mission of supporting socially isolated individuals via community-led interventions.
• The Hygiene Bank: UK charity tackling hygiene poverty through community collection points and partner networks. Comparable small-charity community hub model with corporate ambassador partnerships and grassroots volunteer mobilisation.
• Crisis Skylight: UK national homelessness charity offering community hubs, skills training, and wellbeing programmes. Comparable in delivering drop-in services, volunteering pathways, and creative/wellbeing sessions for socially excluded populations.

Broad incumbents

• Mind (UK): UK national mental health charity that increasingly funds anti-loneliness community programmes and local Mind associations. Comparable target beneficiary (socially isolated individuals) but operates at much larger scale with clinical/advocacy scope.
• Age UK: UK national charity addressing social isolation specifically among older adults through befriending and community services. Overlapping mission and beneficiary segment but much broader service portfolio and national infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Community Shop: UK social enterprise operating discounted community grocery stores for people experiencing food poverty, combining retail with personal development programmes. Comparable in monetising trading activity to fund community welfare outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sparkintolife
• Facebookfacebook.com/Sparkintolife
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spark-community-space
• Instagraminstagram.com/sparkcommunityspace
• TikToktiktok.com/@sparkcommunityspace10

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spark Community Space