We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

Because only together we can

build a world where all of today's youth are safe, strong & valued

WHO WE ARE

Making a Real Difference in People’s Lives.

Spotlight UK started in April 2009.  We started out to provide low cost activities to help increase confidence and self esteem to children and young people across Basingstoke.  However this vision quickly grew and we were able to provide emotional and practical support as well as enjoyable and fun activities to hundreds of children and young people across the area every year.

Year by year we have grown our support and now work across Basingstoke & Deane, West Berkshire, Reading, Hart and Rushmoor, and soon in Salford and across London.

read more
spotlight-charity-Pinocchio Stage
spotlight-charity-RiverRafting
spotlight-charity-Stage Performance
spotlight-charity-Donation
spotlight-charity-Memorial Park
spotlight-charity-shop
spotlight-charity- Support
spotlight-charity-Town Centre Performance
Previous
Next

WHAT WE DO

Food & Clothes Bank

Over one million people used the support of food banks in the UK. A third of these were children.

Due to a mixture of the rising cost of living; of food and fuel, unemployment and underemployment

Read More.....
spotlight-charity-shop

Charity Shop

Come and have a look in our Shop, All the proceeds go back in to the charity to help out Adults and Children in the community

Open Monday to Friday  10am till 5pm,  Saturdays 10am till 4pm

Read More.....

Christmas Appeals

Spotlight run multiple appeals leading up to the Christmas period to help those in need of support. We run a toy appeal for local children, Christmas stockings for the elderly and Christmas hampers. 

Read More.....
spotlightuk-child youth support

Child and Youth Support

We provide 1-2-1 mentoring and emotional support for children and young people aged 7-19 years from vulnerable backgrounds                                                 

Read More.....
spotlight-family support

Family Support Service

Spotlight’s team of Family Support Workers support families cope with what life throws at them.  We support parents cope, help to develop confidence and self esteem of parents.

Read More.....

Body Positivity

At the heart of our body positivity programme is giving people the tools to accept and love themselves. Promoting self-worth and tackling mental ill-health during our sessions aim to be a starting point for a further journey of self-love and acceptance.     

Read More.....
read more

IMPACT STORIES

Jessica’s Story

I am Jessica and I am 10 years old. This is my story which I now feel safe enough to share thanks to the team at Spotlight, social services and my new parents. 
read more

Caring for Macy

Macy aged 8, was selective mute after witnessing domestic abuse between her dad and her mum. She would cry herself to sleep.  Lacking confidence and low self esteem. Spotlight has funded Macy to attend…
read more

PARTNERS

webdynamix
asda
atmosphere
barclays
fareshare
greenham-trust
hiwcf
hollywood-bowls
hsbc
inner-wheel
lilly
lions-international
m&s
miss-lawrence-trust
morrisons
nandos
pebi
portsmouth-cc
red76
rotary-international
round-table
rushmoor-bc
sun-life
tesco
the-good-exchange
the-hygiene-bank
uk-youth
unum
waitrose
workfront
zurich
crescent
site-equip
unflatpack
BNI
Lionize
Previous
Next

support us and change the course of a child’s life today!

Food Bank

 

In 2020 food banks became an essential resource for millions across the UK. There are many reasons that someone may need to use a food bank. They may have lost their job, fallen on hard times or may have been impacted by the economic implications of the pandemic.  

It’s because of the increase in demand we wanted to get involved and turn words into action, and are currently supporting over 640 people per week. We teamed up with Covid 19 Basingstoke to ensure the most vulnerable in our community are taken care of and know that they haven’t been forgotten.  

You can be a part of helping others by making a donation, allowing us to buy items in bulk to distribute. From fresh fruit and veg to much-needed baby formulae, your donation could mean someone has a decent meal.  

During the first lockdown, we provided over 500,000 meals to adults and families across Basingstoke & West Berkshire. 

Charity Shop

 

Come and have a look in our Shop, All the proceeds go back in to the charity to help out Adults and Children in the community

Open Monday to Friday  10am till 5pm,  Saturdays 10am till 4pm

7 Winchester Street, Basingstoke RG21 7ED in the old Life Charity shop in between McDonalds and Royal Bank of Scotland at the top of town.

Donations of goods welcome. Unfortunately we cannot accept furniture or electrical items. We also run a clothes/toys/equipment bank for families in desperate need. This is distributed via referral from social workers, schools and other professionals.

Christmas Appeals

Spotlight run multiple appeals leading up to the Christmas period to help those in need of support. We run a toy appeal for local children, Christmas stockings for the elderly and Christmas hampers.

Powered by

SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

 

Spotlight UK works across West Berkshire, Basingstoke, and Hart & Rushmoor

Mentoring Support

 

We provide 1-2-1 mentoring and emotional support for children and young people aged 7-19 years from vulnerable backgrounds including young people with mental health issues, young people who are self harming, young people at risk of child sexual exploitation, young carers, children in care, children and young people affected by domestic abuse, neglect or physical/sexual/emotion abuse, children/young people who have experienced loss and separation, young people caught up with drugs/alcohol abuse or anti social behaviour, those excluded from school, those affected by domestic abuse, young people disengaged at school, young people with anger issues, children and young people where one parent is not around or part of their lives.

We currently provide over 4000 hours of 1-2-1 mentoring per year. We receive referrals from schools, GPs, Social Workers, School Nurses, Mental Health Services, Early Help Hubs, Health Visitors and other professionals.

Each child or young person is treated as an individual. Most of the young people we work with just want quality attention, support, encouragement and love. Our team help young people to regulate their emotions, talk through problems they are facing, help young people reach their potential and achieve their goals.

Our role as a mentor is to believe in the young person, make them feel safe, make them feel important and wanted, we see the good when others do not. There is always hope even when it does not feel like there is. Encourage young people to never give up and encourage that they can achieve if they put their minds to it.

You can really make a difference and change a life around…

Become a mentor…

It’s an opportunity for you to change the life of a young person who, through no fault of their own, is not receiving the attention, encouragement and support they need.

Many of the young people after they leave us, return to school, get excellent exam results and some go on to higher education. Others learn to manage regulate their emotions, rebuild relationships with parents or sibling, develop coping strategies to cope with difficult problems at home.

It’s not only the mentees themselves who benefit from a mentoring programme, many of our mentors have said that mentoring has helped them in their employment and looks good on their cvs, as well as the satisfaction that comes from watching a young person grow and achieve.

What does being a mentor involve..

Mentors meet with the same young person once a week, for around six months to one year. The aim is to offer support, encouragement and guidance. Mentors encourage young people to believe in themselves, building up their self-confidence and helping them to achieve their goals.

Many of the young people have been let down by adults and have faced disappointment. They may not have an opportunity to express how they feeling or if they do, they might not have anyone who really cares. The most important thing that a mentor can do is to simply be there for the young person – to be someone that the young person can trust, an adult who will listen to them without judgement.

If you are interested please email admin@spotlightuk.org

Supporting Families

 

Spotlight’s team of Family Support Workers support families cope with what life throws at them.  We support parents cope, help to develop confidence and self esteem of parents.

When life becomes a little overwhelming our team come alongside parents and become a listening ear, an extra pair of hands, a helper around the home, whether that be help with shopping, or help declutter homes or help with housework, or to take a child or children to the park to give the parents a little bit of respite with the point that they know their children are safe and are not getting into trouble outside of the home.

We also provide group support sessions, food/clothes and baby equipment for families in need.

We support parents with mental health issues or physical disabilities, long term medical conditions or terminal illnesses, parents with drug/alcohol dependency, parents with children with additional needs, parents with children and young people with challenging behaviours, parents with multiple births or postnatal depression, or parents who have experienced loss or separation.

With a little support and by coming alongside a parent it can help keep a family together.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Family Support Worker please email andrea@spotlightuk.org

Body Positivity

 

At the heart of our body positivity programme is giving people the tools to accept and love themselves. Promoting self-worth and tackling mental ill-health during our sessions aim to be a starting point for a further journey of self-love and acceptance.  

As part of our plight to help young people, we teamed up with Helen Breward from Pebbles Hypnotherapy to run six sessions of 1-1.5 hours for young people from 13-17 with anxiety. At the start, three groups were funded each week for up to 30 young people. We hope to continue to grow the programme and instil a sense of self-worth and acceptance for young people who participate.  

We are lucky enough to be funded by Greenham Trust in Newbury for West Berkshire. If you would like to get involved to support our efforts, please contact ‘admin@spotlightuk.org’. Every offer of help or donation is a big step toward helping others in their journey to body positivity.  

Scroll to Top