sparc news

SPARC Newsletter
SPARC, your friendly neighbourhood scrapstore, is the place to come to for a large range of RECYCLED materials, plus craft items and ideas — making it a one stop shop for your creative projects. We run workshops tailored to your themes or curriculum links and can put you in touch with artists for specific projects. We work with every age and stage - so give us a ring to discuss your ideas for workshops.

September 'o8

To all Members from the Directors/Trustees of SPARC

In common with many organisations, (some infinitely vaster than SPARC), the effects of the Credit Crunch are making life difficult at the scrapstore, so if we don’t have all the usual items in stock, we’re sure that you will understand and give us your support and help to weather the storm.

Some of you will have heard that Caroline has moved on after twelve years at the heart of SPARC. Her influence has been enormous in making the scrapstore what it is today and her energy, enthusiasm and encouragement have enabled many of us to do things which we would never have thought possible. We know that you will join us in thanking her and wishing her well in the future.

The Sparc committee are looking for Volunteers.

Sparc is a Registered Charity and Limited Company and operates with Volunteer Trustees.
The Committee Members are asking people to come forward to help run Sparc on a Managerial Basis.

Sparc is an established and successful Charity needing more funding and guidance to develop further in response to the needs of their community. By Volunteering you will have an opportunity to ;
    - Put existing skills into action for the benefit of thousands of people
    - Help to create Sparc's future
    - Share the development of our mission to use creative Recycling to raise awareness of issues important to our             future- e.g. sustainability, awareness of other cultures and caring for our planet
    - Help support the Educational Aspects of Sparc – which are our Training Programmes and Resources and                     Workshops
    - Contribute to the day to day tasks to ensure Sparc's existence and effectiveness within the Community
    - Gain experience in this unique Charity - with training opportunities in various areas that you are interested in
Please contact Sheila on 01803 847943 and make a valuable contribution to Sparc.

Playschemes with Funding from BIG LOTTERY
SPARC has an expansive experience in Play and Creative Training and has been successful in receiving a £25,000 grant from the Big Lottery in partnership with South Hams District Council.
SPARC in partnership with South Hams District Council is able to offer your Community a
FREE 2 DAY PLAYSCHEME for children aged 8 – 12 during the school holidays!
A playscheme offers children the opportunity to partake in a series of activities such as – Arts and Crafts, Games and Sports, Cooking, Role Play and much, much more. The community will be expected to collaborate in the organisation of these playschemes by providing 4 Volunteers, a suitable venue and recruitment of
children wishing to attend. Volunteers will be given a training day where they can develop their skills and ideas for the event.
SPARC is hoping that by working in this way, Playschemes will become sustainable throughout South Hams.
If you would like to have a PLAYSCHEME in your community please contact SPARC on 01803 847943.

St. Johns School Bridgetown, hosted a 2 day Playscheme on the 15th and 16th of April 2008.

This playscheme was supported by 4 volunteers from the Bridgetown school, who received a one day training from Sparc on running a Playscheme. Ali Roscoe and Caroline Lakin were the Playscheme Trainers and Facilitators and the playschemes are organised for free and in such a way that they can be sustainable for each community to run their own playschemes in holiday periods.
The Volunteers chose the theme of the "Green Man" and the Environment. With Sparc's Green Man Story-bag resource, they created a programme of activities to cover the 2 days, from 10-3pm each day.
25 children between the ages of 8-12 came and had a fabulous playtime. They listened to stories, cleared up the nature trail, made sculptures, played games, created dens, planted seeds and started sprouting seeds to eat as well as creating a giant Green Man face with green fruit and vegetables which they eat with their parents.
The children felt very excited to be wet and muddy while exploring their nature trail and creating sculptures to enhance it. They looked at the litter collected and had clear ideas on how they could eliminate this problem in the future.
New friendships were created and Parents took the time to appreciate their children's work.
The playscheme was visited by council representatives and they were very excited by the responses of the children.
Volunteers receive a certificate from Sparc and hope to put some photos of the playscheme on the school website.
Sparc would like to thank the volunteers and Gill Till of S. Hams who worked very hard to create a very special 2 day event.

Funding News

SPARC is very grateful to the following

Step Up Fund
- Let's Educate & Recreate

Lottery Bid
- 3 years project running play schemes in
South Hams

Southwest Foundation
-Community Building

Traveller workshops at Sparc, funded by the South West Foundation.

Travellers and their children were invited to attend a series of Community Building workshops.
Over a few months many travellers attended and formed a network that spanned various sites within the South Hams. Support workers from the County were able to meet families in a spacious warm and relaxed environment and discuss the needs of the travellers and to offer help and advice.
Children and adults were able to explore some new creative projects and develop some skills that they had left behind while not having the time or space for when on the road – backdrops were created, along with dolls which may soon be available for sale, dresses, costumes, cards, curtains, cushions and lots more.
The children found warmth and spaciousness with new friends to play and create their own world with. They played skittles, trains and journeys to the sea, sticking and gluing, choosing their own materials for play and creativity from the scrapstore each session.
Training and support was developed with some Travellers accessing relevant training to find employment.
Families attending were offered a chance to explore new cooking skills and lunches were well appreciated - we cooked different breads, soups, falafels, salad dressings and other delicious recipes each week which inspired and satisfied us all.
The project was a great success and Sparc is looking for further funding to support the Travelling Community in this next period.

How you can help SPARC

Renew your membership/join SPARC
Volunteer at SPARC and tell others
Put SPARC in touch with new suppliers of safe, non-toxic waste/good household waste
Attend a workshop/event and bring a friend
Use the workshop space for meetings, group work, band practice, parties or other events. As a member, it is only £6 per hour to hire.
Collect some newsletters to take to your local group/shop/school. Everyone can join SPARC and lighten their environmental footprint.

Textiles on Tuesdays
We meet every Tuesday in term time
at SPARC from 10.00 - 12.00

We are a friendly bunch of women textile enthusiasts who meet to share skills, swap ideas and carry out joint projects. These are many and varied. If you have skills to share or are keen to learn new ones, why not join us .

If you are interested in becoming part of this project please contact
Jennie on 01803 866771 or at SPARC 01803 847943 for more information.

South Devon Play Resource Limited
The Old Chicken House, Craft Education, Dartington, Totnes, TQ9 - 6EA, Devon
Tel/Fax: 01803 847943/868371
http://www.sparc-scrapstore.co.uk
Registered in England & Wales. Company No: 5264002
Registered Charity No: 1107266