Radstock and Westfield’s Big Local held its fifth Dragons’ Den style event last Friday evening at the Victoria Hall, Radstock. It was extremely well attended by representatives from local projects, ready to present their ideas to the three ‘kind’ dragons, members from local businesses who were set the task of asking questions to help participants make the most of their ninety second pitch, and for the audience to make up their minds before they cast their all-important vote.

The three dragons were Craig Shaw, CEO of Advetec, Denise White, CFH CRS and Communications Coordinator and Mark Richards, Radco Store Manager, with thanks to them for giving their time. Dom Chambers, from Somer Valley FM, led the proceedings and kept the event on track with time.

Marlene Morley presented a Big Local update and then the pitches began and the egg timer started – 90 seconds doesn’t sound like a long time, but you would be surprised at how much information can be shared! All of the applicants used creative and engaging methods to get their idea across, from using model toy cars to acting out a play.

The residents and those who work in the area who made up the audience voted for their favourite five projects they would like to see happen in their community.

Hundreds of votes were counted while some delicious homemade treats created by the SWALLOW team were sampled. The delightfully talented Zoe Newton, from the acoustic sessions, also entertained.

The successful applicants were:

• The Potting Shed @ Radstock: for seeds, soil and gardening equipment to

engage, support and inspire local residents who suffer from Mental Health issues, isolation, long-term illness or bereavement.

• The SWALLOW community café: who give people with learning difficulties the skills and experience required to gain employment. They successfully pitched for a new chiller for the café, so they can expand the range of healthy takeaway lunches they can display and also some new tablecloths.

• The Lower Writhlington Colliery Batch Fossil Source: which can now carry out the much needed improvements to the fossil site in Writhlington, which is currently overgrown, to ensure the Annual Family Fossil Hunt can continue. The hunt is an educational activity for children supervised by a professional geologist, which encourages learning about fossils and the SSSI geological past.

• Trinity Does DIY SOS: the children from the school successfully pitched to

enhance and make safe the outdoor space around the early years school field by

installing steps, an outdoor patio and outdoor learning huts.

• Radstock Museum: can now remodel the tea room into a 1930s style railway buffet car to help increase visitors and give a new experience. The window mounted photographs will also be visible from the outside, enhancing the exterior.

• Norton Radstock Amateur Boxing Club: which will now be able to purchase new boxing gloves and skipping ropes, giving young people the opportunity to build on their fitness, confidence and discipline.

• Radstock Juniors Club – can now do more than just the usual cutting and sticking activities, as they have secured funds to provide an extended and varied

programme of confidence boosting activities for local children affected by learning disabilities.

• SWAN Community Transport: which now has the funding to provide around sixty journeys for local residents who are elderly, frail or disabled, in order to get to their medical appointments, buy food and reduce isolation when they meet with friends. This is an essential lifeline to those who cannot afford or gain access to taxis or public transport.

• The Young Actors Group are an enthusiastic bunch supported by the Writhlington-based Confessions of a Youth Theatre Company – they can now develop their skills in script writing, directing and producing through accessing training at professional drama workshops and performances.

The Radstock and Westfield Big Local Team would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that attended this very successful Dragons’ Den style event, as without you, it wouldn’t work! The event is resident led, resident supported and residents will lead and access the projects that won – that’s what Big Local is all about!