Basingstoke charity Spotlight has been chosen by Festival Place visitors and local residents as the shopping centre’s charity of the year.
Underlying its commitment to the community, Festival Place turned to the people of Basingstoke to help choose its Charity of the Year. Spotlight won after securing 38 per cent of the votes.
Based in the town, Spotlight started in 2009 to give emotional and practical support to children by providing low cost activities. Last year the charity launched ‘Scarlett’s Smiles’ to support children who are suffering difficulties such as terminal or long-term illness, trauma or domestic abuse.
Michaela Riley, founder and chairman of Spotlight, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been nominated as Festival Place's Charity of the Year. It means so much that it was the public who voted for us too.
“We look forward to working with Festival Place this year and hope that together we can make a big difference and change the lives of local children who are struggling at this time. We cannot take away the past or the pain but can help to improve mental health and create new positive memories.”
Spotlight provides a whole range of free outdoor activities like paddleboarding, lagoona and donutting as well as other activities like bowling, laser tag and trampolining,
One of the children helped by Spotlight is Scarlett Cripps who inspired Scarlett’s Smiles. The 11 year-old, named a winner in last year’s national 2024 WellChild Awards, was born with a serious brain malformation and extensive spinal syrinx.
She has faced daily challenges due to her medical conditions that affect her mobility, leaving her extremely fatigued, and often causing her severe pain. She has undergone two major brain surgeries. Despite this she spends her time helping other children by raising money for the charity or saving her pocket money to buy gifts for youngsters in hospital along with her younger sister Sienna.
Scarlett said: “I’m in lots of pain most of the time and I know I can’t do the same things as other children. But being part of Spotlight and doing the activities with other children makes me feel more normal and takes my mind off my pain. I’m so glad that more people will help us thanks to Festival Place.”
FP Centre Director Vicky Hickson said: “We take great pride in our place at the heart of the Basingstoke community, and love supporting a local charity. Spotlight is nothing short of remarkable for what it does for so many children. Every £5 raised is a child’s activity that helps them escape trauma and pain – even for a short time. I’m absolutely delighted that we can support them this year.”
For all Star Wars fans, the Spotlight fundraising kicks off on May 31 when the UK Garrison Stormtroopers invade Festival Place – lightsabers at the ready!
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