News
Our Impact
For over 20 years, The Spark has been helping to culturally raise the children of Leicester so even more children get the chance to experience the arts. We do this not just because a job in the creative industries can lead to asuccessful career worth £126 billion to the UK economy and employing 2.4 million people in 2022 but because we believe that taking part in the arts from an early age makes us better human beings. Whether you grow up to be a friend, a carer, a builder, a doctor or a human rights lawyer, creativity matters.
Social prescribing tells us what we already know: engaging with culture is good for mental and physical health. And right now, the tensions in the world weigh heaviest on children and young people. That’s why we’re determined to make sure children aged 0–13 in Leicester and Leicestershire has the chance to get involved. We work with partners across the city and beyond and if we haven’t worked with you yet, maybe you could help us give every child their human right to play?
Because barriers like cost, location and lack of opportunity mean thousands of children miss out on the confidence, joy and creativity that music, theatre, dance and storytelling bring.
That’s where Spark LIVE! came in.
In 2025, we delivered live performances, workshops and creative activities in schools, libraries and cultural venues mostly in areas where families wouldn’t normally access the arts.
And the difference it made?
- 4,804 children and families took part
- 44 children helped design and lead events
- 81% of parents saw a boost in their child’s confidence
- 91% said they accessed culture they wouldn’t normally get
Families told us how much it meant to see diverse performers in familiar spaces and activities that reflected Leicester’s rich cultural mix.
Now we’re getting ready for Spark Festival 2026, running from 16–24 May, with a theme chosen by children themselves: Peace, Play and Equity because every child deserves to feel safe, have fun and be treated fairly.
We’re also inviting businesses to help us make this happen. Together, we can give more children access to the arts, support wellbeing through joyful experiences and strengthen communities through creativity.
Here’s how your business could support:
- £700 – Funds a performance in one school
- £1,500 – Funds performances in two schools
- £3,000 – Become a Festival Sponsor, helping us reach thousands of children across Leicester during the festival week
We’d love to talk about how we can work together to make a positive impact on the lives of Leicester’s children. Contact us here.
