After 18 months of no live public events, a partnership of Teignbridge CVS, Ashburton Growing Space and Ashburton Climate Emergency Group organised the first ever Ashburton SOUP, writes Sandra Perrraton.
There were around 45 local people present, and five varied pitches (including a range of community benefitting ideas) which were presented in a room beautifully decorated by members of the local Methodist Church.
The event was supported by local councillors Sarah Parker Khan and John Nutley, UK & Ireland SOUP Network, Chamber of Trade and a mystery benefactor.
The Old Library Restaurant volunteered to provide soup for the evening but sadly had to pull out due to illness. The task of making soup was quickly taken over by a team from the Methodist Church (at very short notice!)
Dartmoor Community Kitchen Hub provided the bread and the kitchen team also made a range of delicious cakes. Ashburton Growing Space supplied most of the vegetable ingredients for the soups and the town hall was generously given to us by the Town Council for the evening.
The winning projects walked away with £1,054 between them.
After eating the tasty soups and cakes, people voted for their two favourite projects and monies were awarded according to the number of votes received.
The Bank Youth Project received the most votes and received £285.00 on the night to pay for art materials for the local club which operates four nights a week. The four girls who pitched spoke highly of the project as a place to be themselves and to be creative.
In second place was Ashburton Post Office which is planning on expanding to provide space for local people to be able to come for essential advice and information, avoiding the costly alternative of travelling to a nearby town to get support. They received £240.
The Ashburton Memory Café will spend the £231 it received on a Reminiscence Tea Party for the local Memory Café which has just re opened after 18 months closure due to the pandemic. The Tea Party will be a special event with carers and families also invited.
The Druids Wood Tree Nursery (community nursery/ local tree growing and planting) and the Big Love Bambino Club/The Village (post natal support and pre school activities) also received slightly smaller amounts.
In addition many useful links and connections were made between the projects.
‘Thank you for last night – a lovely heart warming event’
‘The evening was superb – it captured the love and dedication of all involved to help their community. I thought it was truly wonderful’
‘What a great success yesterday evening was on many levels’
? SOUPs are growing in popularity across Devon as a way to connect people, projects and raise fun and funds; please contact Anja from Teignbridge CVS if you would like help organising such an event in your community [email protected].