Glasgow set to tuck into second helping of Soup
INNOVATIVE thinkers who want to benefit their local area are being encouraged to take part in the second helping of Glasgow Soup.
The micro-granting event, which was launched in Glasgow in November to a sell-out crowd, sees individuals, local groups and small charities pitch for projects that benefit the city’s East End.
The second event will take place at the Calton Heritage and Learning Centre on Thursday, March 23.
Participants will also be able to enjoy live music and soup on the night.
Founder and Curator of the Social Care Ideas Factory, Charlie B-Gavigan explained: “The first ‘Soup’ was held in recession stricken Detroit 5 years ago as a unique way of reviving and empowering communities from the bottom up.
“What started as a social movement has turned into a Soup revolution as the concept has spread across the globe.
“There are new ‘Soups’ popping up all across Scotland, with events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stirling and Inverness.
“People all over seem to love its simplicity, you just donate £5 or more on the door, enjoy a bowl of soup and some live music, listen to local people pitch ideas that help your community, have a chat and vote for your favourite idea.
“The presenter with the most votes takes home all the money collected at the door to get their project off the ground.
“We were blown away by the support for our first event in November, more than 100 local people turned out on the night raising £500 winner.” Anyone can apply for the next Glasgow Soup. Charlie explains: “You don’t need to be a charity or constituted group, and you can pitch any idea, so long as the project benefits Glasgow’s East End and is small scale enough for a donation of around £500 to make a difference. “There are no complicated forms to fill out; you just need to answer 3 short questions: for the just tell us your idea, how it benefits the community and how you’d spend the money.
“Pitches on the night are limited to four minutes and there’s no technology allowed, so you don’t need to be an experienced presenter to take part. Just make sure your application reaches us by Friday, March 10.”
The Re-Tune Project was the first not-for profit initiative to win the public vote.
The project helps people with post-traumatic stress disorder, from ex-servicemen to refugees, make positive life changes and gain new skills through making musical instruments from discarded wooden objects, including unusual items such as skateboards and broomsticks.
David McHarg, founder and manager of the Re-Tune Project, said: “It might not seem a lot of funding to some people, but to us it was like winning the lottery.
“We run our project on a shoestring and winning Glasgow Soup has thrown us a lifeline.”