CHILD SPARKS is shaped by parents, carers, volunteers and trustees who bring together family experience, community knowledge and professional expertise.
Where it began
Our founders
Dr Puvan was the driving force behind the creation of Sparks. He recognised the need for a parent-led community that could bring families together, connect them with useful knowledge and professional input, and create a place where parents could support one another. Since the earliest days of the group, he has given a significant amount of his own time, energy and effort to developing Sparks and helping it grow.
Praba, Roshan and Nava came together with Dr Puvan as co-founders, helping turn that vision into a working parent group and contributing to its development over the years. The four founders continue to serve as trustees of CHILD SPARKS.
Dr Kanagasabai Puvanendran · Thanabalasingam Prabakar · Roshan Tharakesan · Nava Ramanan
Guiding our charity
Our trustees
Founder, Chair & Trustee
Dr Kanagasabai Puvanendran
Dr Puvan founded Sparks in 2018 and serves as Founder, Chair and Trustee. He was the driving force behind creating a parent-led community where families could share their experiences, learn together and find understanding and practical support.
Read more about Dr Kanagasabai Puvanendran
A retired Senior Consultant Paediatrician with NHS England, Dr Puvan brings a lifetime of public service and professional experience of children’s health and development to the charity. His commitment to helping others extends beyond his clinical career through his active involvement in society and community life.
Since Sparks began, he has devoted substantial personal time, energy and effort to bringing parents, professionals and supporters together. As Chair, he guides the charity’s purpose and development, keeping the needs of children, young people and their families at the heart of its work.
Co-Founder & Trustee
Thanabalasingam Prabakar
Praba co-founded Sparks in 2018 and serves as a Trustee, contributing to the charity’s strategy, technology and long-term development. He helped turn the founders’ shared vision into a working parent-led support group and has remained committed as Sparks has grown.
Read more about Thanabalasingam Prabakar
An IT consultant in the banking sector, Praba brings experience of technology and practical problem-solving to the charity. He also supports charitable fundraising through adventure challenges, including hiking, cycling and trekking to Everest Base Camp, combining his enthusiasm for the outdoors with a desire to help others.
At CHILD SPARKS, Praba draws on these interests and professional experience to support thoughtful planning, effective use of technology and fundraising. He shares the founders’ commitment to building a welcoming community in which children, parents and carers can find connection and support.
Co-Founder & Trustee
Roshan Tharakesan
Roshan co-founded Sparks in 2018 and serves as a Trustee, bringing financial experience and a strong focus on governance to the charity. He helped establish the parent-led group and continues to support its direction as CHILD SPARKS develops.
Read more about Roshan Tharakesan
As a Head of Finance, Roshan brings professional knowledge of financial management, accountability and sound organisational oversight. Within the charity, he looks after finance, audit and governance matters, helping ensure that resources are managed carefully and that decisions are supported by clear information.
Roshan’s contribution helps provide a dependable foundation for the charity’s work with children, young people and families. Alongside his fellow trustees, he supports responsible planning and the stewardship needed to sustain a parent-led community for the future.
Co-Founder & Trustee
Nava Ramanan
Nava co-founded Sparks in 2018 and serves as a Trustee, supporting the charity’s strategy, governance, technology and long-term development.
Read more about Nava Ramanan
Outside Sparks, Nava is a senior technology leader and Director of Technology within UK Government, with more than 25 years’ experience across government, defence and industry. He is also a Chartered Engineer, Chartered IT Professional, Chartered Cyber Security Professional, Fellow of BCS and the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and a serving British Army Reserve officer.
Nava brings his professional experience in leadership, technology and organisational transformation to Sparks, alongside a strong personal commitment to helping children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs and their families.
Trustee
Vijithra Sivabalan
Viji joined the trustee team in 2025, adding a valuable parent and community perspective as CHILD SPARKS moved towards its formal charitable structure and next stage of development.
Read more about Vijithra Sivabalan
As a book club administrator, she brings a wealth of knowledge, a love of shared learning and experience of bringing people together. Her close connections with parents help her understand the questions, interests and everyday concerns that families bring to the community. She also draws on the practical organisation and initiative that come with running her own business.
Within CHILD SPARKS, Viji supports parent engagement and shared learning, helping keep family perspectives connected to the trustees’ discussions. Her contribution strengthens the charity’s emphasis on listening, understanding and building a welcoming network of support around children and their families.
Our committee
Alongside our trustees, parents and volunteers help organise activities, family engagement, learning and community events. Our committee supports the planning, communication and day-to-day organisation behind this work.
01
President
Helps coordinate the committee and brings people together around the charity’s activities and priorities.
02
Secretary
Supports meetings, records and communication, helping the committee stay organised and connected.
03
Treasurer
Supports financial records, budgeting and reporting, working alongside the trustees on responsible use of funds.
04
Committee team
Bring their skills, ideas and community connections to help organise activities and support families.
A community working together
Different kinds of experience help make CHILD SPARKS welcoming, practical and connected.
Volunteers
Volunteers give time and care to welcome families, help with activities and support community events.
Professionals
Dr Puvanendran contributes regularly to our weekly parent sessions. Other professionals contribute from time to time, sharing knowledge that helps parents explore questions and understand different approaches.
Regional Leaders
Regional Leaders coordinate local activities, keep families connected and help make sure local experiences and needs are heard across the wider charity.
Children and siblings
Children and siblings are part of our community in their own right. Their interests, choices and voices matter, with opportunities to play, try activities and spend time together.
Parents and carers
Shaped by parents and carers
Parents have shaped Sparks from the beginning. Families share what they have learned from supporting their own children, welcome new parents and help make activities possible. That experience continues to guide our community as it grows.
A listening ear
Parents make space for each other to talk honestly, share experiences and feel understood without judgement.
Learning together
By sharing what has helped their own family, parents give others ideas to explore and the confidence to ask questions.
A place to belong
Welcoming new families, helping at activities and staying connected are small acts that make a lasting difference.
