Full Steam Ahead: Sparkle Ambassador Gus Burton after debut win at British GT Championship

Teenage racing car driver Gus Burton achieved a debut victory in The Intelligent Money British GT Championship at Brands Hatch last month.

The 18-year-old British Racing Driver’s Club rising star, who is an ambassador for The Sparkle Foundation, secured pole position in qualifying with his co-driver Will Burns in the Century Motorsport prepared BMW M4 no. 57 car before going on to win the GT4 race.


As one of The Sparkle Foundation’s youngest ambassadors, Gus is ready to ‘sparkle’ during this year’s racing season as he raises awareness for vulnerable children in Malawi.


“The Sparkle Foundation remains close to my heart,” says Gus. “The charity’s CEO, Sarah Brook, is an Old-Felstedian student just like me and her inspiring story about Malawi is one that has stuck with me to this day.


Since becoming an ambassador for the charity, Gus Burton Racing has raised £55,000 for Sparkle, thanks to the generosity of sponsors. Gus continues: “This season, I’m going full speed ahead on both the racetrack to secure a title challenge and to raise awareness for Sparkle. Together with Team Century and my co-driver Will, I believe we have the foundations in place to have a successful year.”


As Gus prepares for his next challenge at Silverstone 500 on 27th June, Sparkle founder Sarah Brook wishes the young driver every success for the season ahead.


“Gus has been a fantastic ambassador for The Sparkle Foundation and has made such a difference to the children of Malawi,” added Sarah. “His long-standing commitment has meant that he has raised thousands of pounds for the charity and has seen first-hand how his sponsorship has helped following his visit to Malawi back in 2019. Even though he’s only 18, it just goes to show that being young doesn’t mean you can’t make a big difference. In fact, it means you make an even bigger impact!”


“We wish Gus all the best for the upcoming season and hope that he can continue the positive momentum from his race win at Brands Hatch to Silverstone later this month. There is no doubt about it – we know Gus is going to ‘sparkle’ beyond the end of the season at Donnington GP in October, and Sparkle will be supporting him all the way.”



To keep track of Gus’ activities this season, please visit gusburtonracing.com


What Britain's Aid Cut to Malawi Means for Charities on the Ground

What Britain's Aid Cut to Malawi Means for Charities on the Ground

By Talhia Le Berre • August 4, 2026
UK government funding to Malawi is on track to drop by around 90 per cent within two years, from K117.9 billion down to K11.7 billion by 2028. The figures emerged in Parliament last week, where Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha faced questions from MP Francis Belekanyama on how such a steep reduction would affect budget delivery. The Minister's position was that the national budget itself is not at risk, since the reduction had already been built into government planning.  Where he was less reassuring was on who absorbs the impact. Per the report, it is Malawi's NGOs, not the state, that are expected to feel this most, given how many rely on UK funding to run health, education and social protection work.

The Four Words That Built an Ambassador

By Talhia Le Berre • July 20, 2026
The Sparkle Foundation Podcast is where we shine a light on the extraordinary people behind our mission: volunteers, changemakers, and champions who show up, roll up their sleeves, and prove that one person really can make a difference. Each episode is an honest, unscripted conversation about what drives people to give back, and what happens when they do. Hosted by Sarah Brook , Founder and CEO of The Sparkle Foundation. 

Students Rally Their Community to Support The Sparkle Foundation’s Medical Outreach Programme

July 6, 2026
We are incredibly proud to partner with Haileybury, an independent school in Hertford, United Kingdom, whose students consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to service, leadership and global citizenship. Through initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, students have supported The Sparkle Foundation by organising creative fundraising events that make a tangible difference to the communities we serve in Malawi. One such student is Eva Kinsey, who was part of the team that organised a community quiz night in support of our Medical Outreach Programme. Eva kindly wrote the reflection below, capturing the experience from a student's perspective. We are delighted to share her account of the evening and the impact that was made.