Eight fantastic initiatives to support local children and young people were awarded over £3,000 of funding at the Christchurch Soup on Monday 21 October.
Guests at the event heard funding pitches from each organisation and were then asked to vote for their favourite. The 100+ attendees were given a bowl of soup, and then used their empty bowls to vote.
Over 100 guests enjoyed hearing the pitches at Christchurch Soup
Many of the pitches involved children and young people, and guests were thoroughly entertained by some very creative and inventive presentations, along with music from the fabulous Swing Unlimited Community Band.
The biggest funding award went to MYTIME Young Carers, who were given £1,000 for their project to produce 50 Christmas Gift Bags for young carers in Christchurch. Thanks to the generosity of funders the Primrose Fund and Christchurch Town Council, as well as funds generated through ticket sales, the other seven organisations that pitched also received £250 each, with an additional £225 generously donated by Talbot Village Trust to The Priory School’s Eco Team and Somerford Youth and Community Centre’s Youth Council.
MYTIME Young Carers were presented with a cheque for £1,000 by Cllr Paul Hilliard, Mayor of Christchurch, and Kelvin and Pippa Medley-Jones of the Primrose Fund
The Christchurch Soup event was hosted by Christchurch Community Partnership, in partnership with Christchurch Town Council.
Councillor Paul Hilliard, Mayor of Christchurch, said: "The Soup event was such a fantastic way to hear from young people and those supporting the youth in our community.
"Some of the inspiring projects included the creation of a recycling centre at the Priory School and outdoor library at St Josephs to a Christmas Gift appeal with MYTIME supporting over 150 young carers in Christchurch.
"It was great to see such a wonderful turn out and I'm so pleased Christchurch Town Council was able to support this meaningful and magnificent event."
Rev Sandra Prudom, CEO at Christchurch Community Partnership, said: "It was fantastic to see so many members of our community come together to support the children and young people here in Christchurch.
“A huge well done to everyone who was brave enough to stand up and pitch their idea to a room full of people – every single pitch and every single project deserved support, and we were delighted that we were able to provide funding to them all thanks to the generosity of organisations in our local community.”
Guests at Christchurch Soup voted with their soup bowls
The eight projects pitched at the Christchurch Soup were:
The Priory School’s Eco Team – for a new recycling centre in the school
St Joseph's School – for a welcoming outdoor library where pupils and parents can explore books together
Somerford Youth and Community Centre – to help establish a new Youth Council and make youth participation fun
MYTIME Young Carers – for 50 Christmas Gift Bags for the young carers in Christchurch schools who selflessly look after relatives
Christchurch Music Centre – for new instruments to use at their regular ‘playdays’
Mudeford Girl Guides - for TUT (Tart Up Tutton), a project to spruce up the historic Tutton's Well and spring
University Hospitals Dorset Charity – for technology to use in a new hospital classroom
Untapped Art Therapy – for an Art Therapy Group for vulnerable young people in the local community
Would you like to support events like the Christchurch Soup as one of our fabulous team of volunteers? Find out more in our Volunteering section.
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