Soup Dragon's Den - November 2024
Thank you to everyone who joined our Soup Dragon’s event at The Rawstorne Sports Centre, in Freckleton.
We heard pitches to:
- cook food and provide sleeping bags and clothes to people sleeping on the streets;
- offer crown green bowling fun days for people of all ages and abilities with a particular focus on providing accessible facilities;
- provide blood control kits for people in need of medical support;
- provide community support over the festive season;
- offer a crafting activities and resources for group supporting independent living tenants and wider members of the community in Freckleton.
The winning pitch was from Sikh Volunteers (Preston), with The Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen Service.
They will receive £1,000 from our Community Investment Fund to cook nutritious meals and hand out essential items such as sleeping bags, sanitary products and clothes to people who are sleeping on the streets in the Preston area.
Dr Amrit Kaur, from The Guru Nanak's Free Kitchen Service for All by Sikh Volunteers (Preston), said: “We’re absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful for this win.
"We’re currently running from home with nearly all financial support coming from our dedicated volunteers. This money will help us purchase food, urgent winter essentials for people in need, such as, hygiene products, sleeping bags. We’ll also try to invest in hot food kettles, enabling us to serve hot vegetarian meals alongside hot drinks in these tough cold weather conditions. This funding will help us continue to provide not just food, but hope, dignity, and connection to those who feel forgotten.
“It was amazing to see other inspiring charities reminding us of the unique ways we all contribute to making a difference.
“We were deeply moved by the Fylde Food Community Hub, so in the spirit of sharing, we’ve decided to donate 10% of our prize to help them purchase Christmas presents for children.”
The four other community groups and individuals who pitched during the event will also receive funding of up to £200. They are:
- The Eagle and Child Bowling Club – Members organise fun days to bring people together through gentle exercise and fun. They had a particular focus on improving accessible facilities, but want to get people of different ages and ability together using crown green bowling as a new fun and exciting hobby.
- Chorley’s Angels – This volunteer-led community first aid group provide medical aid at community events. The group will use funds to buy blood control kits.
- The Fylde Food Community Hub – This group of volunteers run a food hub at our community centre at Lower Lane, Freckleton. They will use this funding for their Christmas Community Support project, offering help over the festive period.
- Laugh Live Love – This volunteer-led craft club provides craft sessions at our some of our independent living schemes scheme in Fylde. They will use funds to provide a wider range of crafting resources to support the groups.
Diane Nash, Customer Voice Manager, said: “Thank you to our five fantastic community groups for pitching your projects and for the amazing work you do.
“It is truly inspiring and so emotional hearing about the impact you have on your communities.
“Congratulations to Guru Nanak who delivered a very compelling pitch and will be awarded £1,000 to continue to support people sleeping on the streets in the Preston area. Your food, compassion and support will be very much appreciated. And what a lovely gesture to donate 10% to one of the other community groups pitching.
“Big thanks also go to The Rawstorne Sports Centre, in Freckleton, for allowing us to host our event.”
- We are now planning our next Soup Dragon’s Den event in May. Applications will open from April. Keep an eye out on our website for more details.