Spark Community Space, located in the heart of Portsmouth, is a vital connection point for those who feel alone, isolated, or overlooked. Leading this initiative is Becki Simmons, Spark’s founder, who, along with Portsmouth FC and the Queens Hotel, has ignited a movement to combat loneliness in a city where simple, everyday connections are at risk of fading.
Through Portsmouth FC’s equality, diversity, and inclusion program, the club has joined forces with Spark to raise awareness about isolation and bring a comforting community presence back into the lives of Portsmouth residents. “Isolation isn’t just an issue for the elderly,” Becki explains. “With shops closing and people feeling more disconnected, we’re seeing that anyone can be affected. We’re losing spaces where people naturally interact, so we’re stepping in to bridge that gap.”
This vision has given birth to the Spark Cup initiative, a project that unites Portsmouth FC, Spark Community Space, and the Queens Hotel, all sharing a commitment to revitalising community spirit. For a £10 donation, visitors to Spark can enjoy a cup of tea, meet new people, and receive their own Spark Cup as a keepsake. That same donation also covers the cost of a cup for someone they may never meet, offering warmth and a reminder that they belong.
Each cup is inscribed with the words The Perfect Match – a nod to the partnership between Spark Community Space, Portsmouth FC, and the Queens Hotel. Portsmouth FC has generously shared its iconic logo for the cup’s design, turning each cup into a symbol of a city-wide “hug” – a big embrace to show that no one has to face loneliness alone.
“When you walk down the street today, just say hello to someone,” Becki encourages. “You might be the only person that person speaks to today.”
Lina Small, Head of People and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion at Portsmouth FC, shares the club’s perspective: “We feel that inclusion and togetherness are at the heart of our community here at Portsmouth FC,” she says. “With the Spark Cup initiative, we’re helping support a space that is welcoming and inclusive for all, and we’re proud to partner with Spark for this project that brings people together to combat isolation.”
As Spark Community Space, Portsmouth FC, and the Queens Hotel continue their mission to address loneliness and foster a sense of belonging, the Spark Cup reminds everyone that even the smallest act of connection – a smile, a hello, a shared cup of tea – can make an enormous difference. This collaboration is truly The Perfect Match, inspiring the city of Portsmouth to connect, one cup at a time.
