Ilfracombe man sparks positive change for youth mental health with Spark UK

At just 18-years-old, Conor Warren from Ilfracombe is among a group changing the scenery of youth mental health advocacy with his ground breaking organisation, Spark UK. 

Founded by Connor and his friends when he was only 14-years-old in December 2020, Spark UK has quickly emerged as an award-winning mental health organisation run by young people for young people.

Since its creation, Spark UK has grown to a team of 12 and has set up as a community interest company. 

"Spark UK is an award-winning mental health organisation run by young people for young people," said Conor.

"We create lessons, resources, and campaigns for thousands of young people across the country.” 

The organisation provides lessons, resources and campaigns to support young people's mental health nationwide.

In 2023, Conor led the team to win the Coronation Champions award from the Royal Voluntary Service and HRH The Queen Consort.

One of their most notable campaigns is the annual All Star Advent campaign, where each day in December, videos featuring celebrities offer tips and advice on mental health behind virtual doors. 

Celebrities such as Dame Judi Dench, Dame Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, Bradley Walsh and Bear Grylls have all lent their support to the initiative, helping to raise awareness and provide guidance on mental health issues.

Another one of Conor’s highlights was attending the King’s coronation concert on May 7, 2023, where he was chosen as a Coronation Champion which he was awarded for his voluntary work. 

Reflecting on the inception of Spark UK, Conor shared: "We always joke it started on a rant." He recalled a conversation with friends about the lack of mental health education in schools, which led them to take action. 

"After ranting for over an hour, we came to the conclusion, why wait, why don’t we try this ourselves?” he said. 

Conor’s dedication to mental health advocacy extends beyond Spark UK, as he is actively involved in five other charities, including RNLI, Scouts, and Young Devon. 

Also, he has demonstrated his skill in public speaking at events like the London Design Biennale.

As a mental health advocate and public speaker, Conor has shown the importance of reaching out for support. 

"My number one tip is to reach out to someone if you can," he advised.

"Talking almost always can be the first step to help."

Looking ahead, Conor has envisioned expanding Spark UK's reach and impact, with aspirations to increase its presence in schools and communities nationwide.

He has aimed and would like to develop innovative digital platforms and resources to make mental health programs more accessible and scalable.

Reflecting on his journey since the inception of Spark UK, Conor has shown the value of perseverance and the power of asking. 

"The biggest lesson I have learned over the past four years is there is no harm in asking," he said.

 "The worst answer you are going to get is a ‘no’."