The Sparkle Bean Trust was set up in early 2022 by our founder Chris Upton. Sadly, in May 2017, a pupil at Tarleton Community Primary School, where Chris is the headteacher, died in the Manchester Arena Attack. Her name was Saffie-Rose Roussos and she was only eight years old. This devastated the school community, an unprecedented situation for a UK primary school to face in modern times.

In the years following this appalling event, Chris and his team learnt a lot about trauma, supporting their children in innovative ways to ensure they received the education they deserved and could enjoy being children again which at times was incredibly difficult due to the fear and grief they felt.

Through the darkness, there was light in the form of an outpouring of love for the school through the many messages, cards and donations. Members of the public, businesses and organisations donated money and most touching were the donations from other schools who held fundraisers such as Wear What you Like Days. Donations totalled over £16,000.

The money enabled the school to target support, sometimes whole school and, at other times, smaller groups or individuals. As the headteacher, this gave Chris the freedom to lead his school community through a sustained period of recovery the way he wanted to and allowed choice in who worked with the children. Financial support was key to a successful recovery.

Chris wanted to share the school’s experiences and has spoken at various conferences with either a theme of counter terrorism or mental health. Audiences have always been deeply moved, surprised and uplifted which is why Chris recently wrote the book Searching for the Sparkle: A School’s Journey of Recovery to lift the lid on his experiences and to support others who may have to sadly face a similar situation.

Chris did not want to make any financial gains from the book, instead wanting to gift the money to charity. On considering where he wanted the money to go, he thought about the generosity of strangers in respect of Tarleton Community Primary and the difference this had made to his children. From a simple idea, the Sparkle Bean Trust was born with a focus on providing small grants to primary schools following the sudden death of a pupil.

Why the name, you may ask?  Sparkle represents the origins from the book and the work completed in finding the sparkle in the children’s eyes. It also represents Saffie and the sparkle she brought to everybody’s lives. Bean represents money therefore money to sparkle. It is also a nod to Chris’ native island of Jersey with the locals being affectionately known as Jersey Beans.

The Aims and Objects of the Sparkle Bean Trust:

To advance such charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as the trustees see fit from time to time in particular to advancing the education of primary school aged children for the public benefit by making grants to schools to support children following the sudden death of one of their peers.

We therefore aim to:

• Provide funding to schools following the sudden death of a pupil to enable leaders to support their community
• Provide advice and learning to school leaders, giving practical solutions to problems
• Raise awareness of issues faced by schools following the sudden death of a pupil

Let us introduce our team of trustees who work together to ensure that we meet our aims so that the work we do is meaningful and offers schools the right support at the right time, providing school leaders with a sounding board as well as financial support to make the difference in a period of recovery for their community.

Each member of the trust board is a highly skilled professional and plays a key role in what we do. They are passionate about their role in our organisation, believing in the difference the Sparkle Bean Trust can make to the lives of children in the aftermath of impossible times.

Chris Upton OBE

Chris is the headteacher of Tarleton Community Primary School and author of Searching for the Sparkle: A School’s Journey of Recovery based on his experiences of leading a school in the aftermath of a terror attack. He is also the founder of the Sparkle Bean Trust as he believes it is important to support primary schools when dealing with the impossible situation of the sudden death of a pupil.

Throughout his career he has always been child focused setting up a junior brass band and being the strategic lead on local school sport, more recently focusing on active non-competitive sport. He is also a trustee of the Axia Learning Alliance, Lancashire’s first mutual Co-operative foundation trust.

Lucy Upton

Lucy has been a teacher for 14 years, teaching, until recently, in areas of high deprivation. Her passion is in the Early Years and this is where she has taught predominantly. She has also developed coaching models across schools to support colleagues’ well-being and improve children’s learning.

She lives in Lancashire with her husband, Chris and their 4 children.

Liz Ormerod

Liz is headteacher at Delph Side Community Primary School in Skelmersdale, which was named Primary School of the Year at the 2019 Pearson National Teaching Awards.  Delph Side’s success is built on a foundation of values led leadership and support for the local community, with recent projects including the creation of a new Special Educational Needs Unit and a community Art Studio opening later in 2022.

With colleagues from other local schools, Liz has created the Forward network of like-minded schools working together for mutual advantage. Collaboration is everything.

Liz loves to travel, at any opportunity, with her husband and their two children – and can often be found walking the Bowland fells! 

Kieran Taylor-Bradshaw

Kieran is a co-owner of a local design agency (www.snugmedia.co.uk) and is well connected across the UK through his business, friendships and also as an active freemason. He supports and helps those he meets as much as he can and provides design, digital and marketing support for the Sparkle Bean Trust.

Laura Duce

Laura qualified as a teacher in 2003 and worked in schools around Lancashire. Currently, she is the headteacher of Lostock Hall Community Primary School, of a two-form entry school, near Preston.

Laura has promoted collaboration across the North West through leading a Teaching School and is now a proud member of Axia Learning Alliance; a group of schools with a focus of Collaboration, Innovation and Community at the core of everything they do.

Janette Higson

Janette has worked with primary aged children for over 27 years and thrives off the challenge that comes with every aspect of school life. This includes 15 years of successful Deputy Headship at Tarleton Community Primary School.  She is also passionate about ensuring children with special educational needs receive the best learning experiences.

From first-hand experience, Janette understands the devastating impact the death of a pupil has on the whole school community and is committed to supporting other schools who may need advice.