Building a Better Bedwell: SPARX Charity Sports Shop and SIP Hub Launch

As part of the Building a Better Bedwell Programme, Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership’s (HSP) Bedwell Active Local Officer attended the launch of the SPARX Charity Sports Shop (formally Sportstraider).  Funded by the Safer Streets Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) grant and supported by Stevenage Borough Council (SBC), the charity aims to provide a discounted sports retail shop for Stevenage residents, which is based in the Stevenage Indoor Market.  The store is managed by a local Bedwell resident whose aim, alongside the charity is to train volunteers and young people within the retail sector. The SPARX Charity Sports Shop will be instrumental in Stevenage and Bedwell as will allow residents to access affordable sports clothing, with profits from the shop being distributed back into the community, working with local non-for-profit groups in Bedwell.  

As well as the launch of SPARX, The Stevenage Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) has been focussing on developing its membership and partnership work in order to formalise as a multi stakeholder cooperative in 2025, of which HSP’s Bedwell Active Local initiative plays a key part. The SIP is utilising funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to support the delivery of the Hub, which is also available for partners to book and utilise to offer or promote their services in a central location. 

These initiatives, working next to each other will be able to offer community members and volunteers excellent opportunities as well as supporting each other in the delivery of vital services in Stevenage. 

Please come down and visit the SPARX shop for your sports clothing needs and promote the services across the Stevenage community, and whilst you are down there pop to The Stevenage Social Inclusion Partnership hub to meet your local stakeholders. You can visit both the SPARX shop and the SIP Hub on Wednesdays to Saturdays between 8:30am and 5:30pm.  

For more information please contact Jess Baird, HSP’s Bedwell Active Local Officer: j.baird2@herts.ac.uk