The Spark (Scotland)
VERIFIED Verified means a representative of this charity has claimed the profile and confirmed their identity. Verified owners can keep the profile current: description and mission, contact details, donation link, leadership and programs. Figures from official registry filings stay read-only.Igniting Change
About
The Spark provides counselling and training 'the advancement of education','the advancement of health','the advancement of citizenship or community development','the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation' The Charity's objects are restricted specifically, in each case only for the public benefit, to provide a continuum of relationship support services for the people of Scotland. As a national charity, the organisation is committed to enhancing, sustaining, and enriching relationships, supporting wellbeing and developing lifelong learning
At The Spark, our mission is to ignite change. We do this by providing compassionate counselling and mental health support to individuals and communities across Scotland. We are committed to creating a safe space where people can explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences without judgment. We believe that everyone deserves to be heard and supported in their journey towards mental wellness. We are dedicated to promoting emotional well-being and fostering resilience through accessible and inclusive services. We want to help create a healthier and happier society, where everyone has access to the support they need to thrive. Our vision is a Scotland where counselling and mental health support is universally accessible, irrespective of age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, relationship status, disability, or financial circumstances.
Programs
1 program run by The Spark (Scotland)-
Counselling Services
Thanks to the support The Spark receives from our funding partners and donors we can offer some services for free or at a reduced rate. This includes: Fast Access Single-Session Therapy (FAST) Free online, solution-focused counselling for individuals aged 18+ in the UK. These single sessions focus on addressing immediate concerns and helping clients identify practical next steps. Free Counselling via Relate National Partnerships Fully funded counselling for eligible individuals, couples, children, and young people in Scotland through partnerships with key sectoral funds and charities (e.g., the RAF Benevolent Fund, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Bank Workers Charity, Charity for Civil Servants, CABA, and the Licensed Trade Charity). Subsidised Counselling Reduced-rate ongoing counselling sessions available to people living in Scotland who require financial support to access longer-term therapy.
Focus & reach
United Kingdom
Verification & registration
Every mark links to the official registry entry and opens in a new tab.
Integrity assessment
A score from 0 to 100 for how openly a charity shares public information across five areas: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and data recency. It does not measure programme impact. See exactly what we do and do not have →
Financials
OSCRLeadership at a glance
Charity-submittedSimilar charities
GiveRadar Intelligence
GiveRadar Analysis
From what GiveRadar has verified so far, The Spark (Scotland) has a complete profile, cross-referenced across 3 independent sources including OSCR.
- This profile is owner-verified, which only 0% of comparable organizations are. See national comparisons
- It has more complete governance disclosure than nearly all comparable organizations, because GiveRadar has verified leadership, a mission statement and a founding date. See national comparisons
- GiveRadar's profile for The Spark (Scotland) draws on its financial disclosures and its governance, in line with the typical education charities in the United Kingdom it tracks. View this cohort
- government registration
- financial records (5 filed years)
- disclosed leadership
- a website
- a contact email
- a donation page
Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.
Filing history
5 years on file from OSCR: revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.
See 5 years of revenue, expense breakdowns, and balance sheet.
Sign up to viewTax deductibility
Whether a gift to The Spark (Scotland) lowers your own taxes depends on where you pay them. Choose your country to see the rule that applies.
Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.
The Spark (Scotland) is in United Kingdom, a TGE (Transnational Giving Europe) member country. Dutch donors can route gifts via Stichting Transnational Giving Europe to receive Dutch ANBI-equivalent deductibility, subject to TGE's 5% pass-through fee.
The Spark (Scotland) is registered in United Kingdom. US donors generally cannot deduct gifts to non-US charities directly. To claim a deduction, route the gift through a US 'Friends of' fiscal sponsor or a donor-advised fund that performs equivalency determination (IRS Rev. Proc. 92-94).
This is general guidance, not tax advice. Confirm treatment with the charity or your tax advisor before donating.
Staff & volunteers
Leadership & board
Charity-submittedBoard members and senior officers on record, with disclosed pay where available.
6 officers and trustees on file, free with a GiveRadar account.
No red flags detected
Timeline
From official filingsKey dates from this charity's official filings, newest first.
In the news
No recent news coverage found
News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.
How it stacks up against peers
Compared with 8 similar education charities in United Kingdom.
Cause areas in United Kingdom
Charities working in each area, this charity's highlighted.
Sources and verification
- Officers and trustees
- Charity Commission for England and Wales - Register of Charities · 6 disclosed in the public registry.
What we know and don't know
Every data point we track for this charity, and whether we have found it. Disclosure only, never a judgment of the charity's work.
Data freshness
How current this profile is, and when we last checked it against the official source.
Methodology
GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.
Read full methodologyFrequently asked questions about The Spark (Scotland)
The Spark (Scotland) is a registered education nonprofit based in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It was founded in 1976 and has been operating for 50 years. Its registration number is SC018249. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 65/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports £2M in annual revenue. 6 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. No red flags have been detected.
Based on official filings, The Spark (Scotland) has £2M in annual revenue. It allocates 100% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 97% for education charities in United Kingdom. Fundraising costs represent 0%. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.
The Spark provides counselling and training 'the advancement of education','the advancement of health','the advancement of citizenship or community development','the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation' The Charity's objects are restricted specifically, in each case only for the public benefit, to provide a continuum of relationship support services for the people of Scotland. As a national charity, the organisation is committed to enhancing, sustaining, and enriching relationships, supporting wellbeing and developing lifelong learning The Spark (Scotland) is classified as an education organization registered in United Kingdom. The organization was founded in 1976.
The Spark (Scotland) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, the most common incorporated form for UK charities. It is registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission, and must file annual accounts with both regulators. Directors (who are also charity trustees) have limited liability. Its Charity Commission registration number is SC018249.
The Spark (Scotland)'s official registration number is SC018249, as recorded in the national registry of United Kingdom.
The Spark (Scotland) is located in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. The organization was established in 1976 and has been active for 50 years.
The Spark (Scotland) is based in Glasgow in Scotland. The Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) is the primary regulator. Scotland has its own regulator (OSCR), and Northern Ireland has the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). A charity registered with the CCEW may operate across the whole of the UK or internationally.
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Quick facts about The Spark (Scotland)
- What is The Spark (Scotland)?
- The Spark (Scotland) is a education charitable company based in Glasgow, United Kingdom. The Spark provides counselling and training 'the advancement of education','the advancement of health','the advancement of citizenship or community development','the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation' The Charity's objects are restricted specifically, in each case only for the public benefit, to provide a continuum of relationship support services for the people of Scotland. As a national charity, the organisation is committed to enhancing, sustaining, and enriching relationships, supporting wellbeing and developing lifelong learning
- When was The Spark (Scotland) founded?
- The Spark (Scotland) was founded in 1976.
- Who leads The Spark (Scotland)?
- Stella Gibson serves as CEO.
- Where is The Spark (Scotland) located?
- Headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
- What is The Spark (Scotland)'s annual budget?
- Annual revenue for fiscal year 2025 is £1.6 million. 100% of expenses go to program services.
- Is The Spark (Scotland) trustworthy?
- The Spark (Scotland) has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 65 out of 100 (Partial transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
- What is The Spark (Scotland)'s registration number?
- Registration: SC018249 (United Kingdom).
- What is The Spark (Scotland)'s website?
- https://www.thespark.org.uk
- Are donations to The Spark (Scotland) tax-deductible?
- Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United Kingdom under local rules. US donors should check whether the charity has an equivalency-determination letter or a US-based fiscal sponsor before claiming a deduction.