A Youth Theatre show, giant school slide, birthday ball and a giant plastic fish were just some of the projects awarded lottery cash as part of the Big Local Dragons’ Den event, held last Friday.

This was the sixth event of its kind, with a record of seventeen projects applying for the grants of £500 each. Each participant had a minute to pitch to the large audience and the ‘Dragons’ – The Journal’s Becky Brooks, Anna Parry, from the Loft music shop in Radstock, and Claire Wynne Hughes, from Quartet Community Foundation.

Just under 200 votes were recorded, with ten lucky projects receiving the money. They were Confessions of the Youth Theatre Company, which won two grants – one to help with running costs to provide free or affordable theatre to children aged between 4–15 to creatively engage with the arts; and the second to put on a musical showcase; to pay for a performance space and local band to accompany them.

Other successful pitches included Trinity School in Radstock, which won two grants for a giant slide as part of their playground improvements (the PTA are fundraising towards a £12,740 target for general improvements) and also money to redevelop an unused allotment area to be used by the school gardening club.

Brand new to Dragons’ Den was an idea to highlight environmental issues and the amount of plastic that we throw away locally. £500 was awarded for local residents and students from Writhlington to work with the Bristol and Avon Rivers Trust to clear Wellow Brook of discarded plastic waste. A giant plastic fish will then be made, working alongside a local artist, and paraded through the town during the first week in June as part of an event organised alongside the Natural Theatre Company. The fish will then go on tour to highlight the issue.

Norton Radstock Amateur Boxing Club received £500 to help refurbish its gym (see page 25), Exit Stage Left also won £500 to put towards their £7,800 target for a performance of Grease; local charity, SWALLOW, will now have money to help subsidise their 25 year celebratory ball later this year, and Westfield Ladies Choir were given £500 to help relaunch the choir and appeal for new members; modernising and rebranding as ‘Westfield Voices’. The money will also mean that they will be able to buy a better sound system and a new uniform.

Last but not least, the Westfield Allotment and Gardening Society were also declared winners to help pay for disabled access to their summerhouse for children, which is currently too steep a slope for young wheelchair users.

The seven unsuccessful projects will continue to receive support and advice from Big Local to try and make their ideas become reality.

Radstock and Westfield Big Local Programme coordinator, Sarah Westell, said: “What amazing community spirit showcased at this year’s Radstock and Westfield Big Local Dragons’ Den event.

“Grateful thanks to Victoria Hall, the SWALLOW pop-up café for refreshments and all those who pitched, helped and supported the seventeen outstanding ideas. Thank you for all your effort, time and energy – together we really can make positive things happen in our community!”

For more information, please visit: http://radstock westfield.org.uk/ where previous projects are showcased.

Big Local also need residents to join the management team, which means you could have the opportunity to decide how and where the lottery money should be spent. For details, contact Sarah on: 07845 756 700 or email: [email protected]