Meet Sophie Sparks

founder of YOU CAN SIT WITH ME

YOU CAN SIT WITH ME was founded in 2015 by Sophie Sparks ( nee Whitehouse) who has over 30 years teaching experience across the UK, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Throughout Sophie’s teaching career she has had the opportunity to work with children globally. Sophie Whitehouse-Sparks has worked with children in England, Ethiopia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia of varying ages, races, religions, disabilities and educational needs. It was through her work that she become aware and deeply concerned about children suffering from non-inclusive behaviour, bullying, anxiety, depression and loneliness as a result of feeling isolated.

After researching these problems, Sophie found the statistical evidence to support that what she was witnessing in the playgrounds, classrooms, sporting clubs and communities was very much becoming a worldwide epidemic.

Sophie created the very simple message ‘YOU CAN SIT WITH ME’ in response to non-inclusive behaviour and bullying and believes by bringing community groups together, we can change children’s lives.

YOU CAN SIT WITH ME program is in 900+ schools across Australia and beyond and is a fully registered Australian charity with DGR status.