Midsomer Norton is to have its first ‘Soup’, a fundraising event organised by the Community Trust to help incredible community projects happen, on Wednesday, 22nd March at 6.30 p.m. in the Assembly Room at Midsomer Norton Town Hall.
Soup may seem a strange name for an event, but the principle is very simple. Local community groups can apply for a place to make a five minute funding pitch and five are selected for the night, reflecting a range of interests and ages.
Local people pay £5 to attend which includes a bowl of soup. They arrive on the night, hear the five community group pitches, then have their soup and place a token as their ‘vote’ for the group they think is the best project. All the ticket fees are then awarded as the ‘Prize Pot’ to the project that gets the most voting tokens. Generally, even those who don’t win the Prize Pot receive offers of help and pledges from people who
attend who like their project.
“Although there are many grant schemes out there, the beauty of the Soup approach is that the funding process is rapid, avoids lots of paperwork and includes a wide number of people in the decision-making process. Having been to an event myself, its great fun and I would encourage community groups to submit applications and for local people to come down to the Town Hall and take part, find out about some exciting projects, and enjoy a bowl of soup,” said Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton.
The event is being sponsored by local firm of accountants, BPB Accounting Solutions Limited.
For further details and to book your ticket for the first ‘Midsomer Norton Soup’ event, or find out more on how to enter a request for a funding pitch, please visit: www.midsomernortoncommunitytrust.co.uk or ring 01761 419133.