Legal status Charity Region served United Kingdom Website www.sparkle.org.uk | Purpose Transgender rights Chair of Trustees Jane Owen | |
Formation 10 June 2005; 11 years ago (2005-06-10) | ||
Sparkle - the national transgender charity based in the United Kingdom that is best known for organising the annual Sparkle Weekend in Manchester, which aims to celebrate the transgender community. The event claims to be the world's largest transgender event.
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History
Sparkle was formed in 2005 and was granted registered charity status in 2011.
Sparkle Weekend
Sparkle Weekend usually occurs every July, with the 12th weekend celebrated in 2016., where over 12,000 people attended It is based around Manchester's Canal Street, with local bars and restaurants sponsoring and advertising the event, and various talks and workshops are run. On the Saturday, Sackville Gardens hosts a stage and stalls.
National Transgender Awards (NTGA)
Sparkle also hosts the National Transgender Celebration to recognise the people and organisations that contribute to the trans community and help ensure trans people can enjoy their lives, careers, families and friends fully. The NTGA 2016 is held in The Palace Hotel in Manchester in March.
Other activities
In addition to organising the Sparkle Weekend, the charity aims to promote awareness and acceptance of the TG community. In November 2014, Sparkle organised a candle-lit vigil to remember victims of transphobic crime as part of the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Trustees and Patrons
Sparkle has a governing body of trustees who are led by Jane Owen (Chair) and Jay Crawford (Vice Chair). The constitution states that only a trans person may lead the organisation, but people who are not trans may belong to governing body of trustees.
Sparkle currently has two patrons Professor Stephen Whittle OBE, and LGBT Rights Activist Rebecca Fox.