Live in Blaenau Gwent, Newport, Monmouthshire or Torfaen and want to become Sparkle Community Ambassador? Help us spread the word about the great work that Sparkle does to support children, young people and their families in their local community.

Community Ambassadors will play a key role in helping Sparkle to meet our objective of increasing awareness and understanding of our work within the community while helping to raise vital funds. Please contact marketing@sparkleappeal.org for more information.

 

"As a small business I wanted to support local charities"

My name is Karla and I’m Director at PBFFitness Ltd. My business is based here in Newport, South Wales. Health and Fitness has been in my blood all my life, as a Commonwealth athlete I was always driven to look after myself and be the best version of me I could be. My experience in helping people began in 2004 and I have had the pleasure of helping people in all walks of life, improving their medical health, improving their fitness and become healthier, stronger and more confident.

As a small business I wanted to support local charities to Newport and South Wales. Sparkle offer such great opportunities to support local families, it was clear that Sparkle would be the chosen charity help. Just like myself, as a small business not eligible for any government support, I felt passionate to help out other smaller charities that would be feeling the negative effects of the shutdown as much as me. The journey took me from face to face with people, to online and reaching a greater audience than I have ever done before. Sparkle became the focus of my attention and drove to do more when the days were tough, I thought of those families who have daily struggles to function and how every penny would help someone local in a special way.

I began to raise money, by offering free group fitness classes online in return for donations. The local community had the choice of 8 classes a week to choose from. I ran charity fundraisers, from kids online discos, bingo nights, quiz nights, tipsy aerobics, and walking challenges to help keep people moving as much as possible. Knowing that I could give back, gave my business purpose and in turn I could simply help more people.

The last 6 months have been an incredible journey and to date we have raised just over £2200 and aiming to hit the £2500 marker before Christmas. Sparkle have been an amazing charity to help and seeing the support they give families, I know that the money will be put to great use.

I am thrilled and honoured to become a Sparkle Community Ambassador, I am completely blown away. The next chapter is so exciting and I realy do hope that as a local business, I can do even more great work with the local community, helping more people feel better and move well. Here’s to building for a better future.