Local organisations Stir to Action and Communities Living Sustainably are teaming up to bring the ‘Soup’—a live crowdfunding event and community dinner—to Bridport this autumn. Supporting community development and regeneration, the first Bridport Soup will take place on Thursday evening, 29 September at the WI Hall.
The idea is simple: For £5 you get a bowl of soup made from locally sourced produce and a vote. During the evening four local projects will each deliver a four-minute pitch about their project, its community benefits and what the funding will support. Each pitch is then followed by four or five questions from the audience, and then the crowd votes. The winning project receives the takings from the door and pledges to share how they’ve used their funding at the next Soup.
“There are just two rules of Soup: every project that applies must be located within the Bridport area and there should be no technology used during presentations,” says co-organiser Jonny Gordon Farleigh. “That keeps it relevant to the local crowd and lowers any barriers to participation. Ahead of the event, projects will get training and tips on how to best frame their pitch. Soup is really about putting power and initiative back into the hands of communities.”
Bridport Soup will be the first in Dorset and joins around 80 Soups across the UK. Amy Kaherl, founder of Detroit Soup in Michigan, USA, where the Soup movement began, is the first to say that these events are not just about the money. “It’s a little bit of funding. It’s a lot more about empowering. And it’s even more about connectivity,” she explains.
“Indeed, it’s not just about the money, it’s also a huge vote of confidence for the winners,” says Linda Hull who is part of the Bridport Soup team. “We are open for pitches on absolutely any theme from all parts of the community. There’s a whole month to get conspiring with friends and family to present your idea persuasively at the first Bridport Soup. With up to four projects being selected to present the week before the Soup event, we are excited to see just what the people of Bridport can come up with!”
If you would like to pitch an idea at Bridport Soup you can find a simple application form on our Facebook page or collect a paper version, available from 10 August, from the Tourist Information Centre or the Library. Applications close 10 September. And to join the first Bridport Soup as a crowdfunder, go to our Facebook page to find information on how to reserve your place. https://www.facebook.com/BridportSoup
