PEOPLE living in Hattersley now have a SOUPer way of raising money for local causes back on their calendar.
For Hattersley SOUP is back after a Covid-enforced two-year absence.
After holding its initial meeting just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, people packed into St Barnabas’ Church hall on Wednesday, December 8 as it restarted.
The intention at the moment is to hold a SOUP event twice a year but hopes are it will eventually go quarterly.
Local groups and causes pitched for a cash donation made from money raised by the £3 entry fee, plus match funding from Onward Homes, Hattersley Projects and C&L Flooring.
Community Soup is a crowd funding initiative that lets the community pick what they want to fund.
At each event, local community groups are invited to present their projects to the community and whilst the community enjoy a hot fresh meal, they can vote on who should win the cash prize.
Each member of the community pays an entry fee which creates the funds for the evening, which means the community is supporting the groups who win themselves.
Mossley also hosts a popular SOUP event and the hope is the return to Hattersley can give a welcome boost.
Sam Powers, Social Investment Specialist at Onward Homes said: “Our first community SOUP in 2019 was a great success and was well supported by local Tameside councillors and the community.
“Covid restrictions placed the event on hold but we are now hoping to facilitate this event a couple of times a year to allow local groups the opportunity to access small funds that will help them grow.
“The event also provides an opportunity for us to identify groups that we can support in the longer term and encourages the community a chance to take part in that process.”
• Any groups from the Hattersley or Mottram areas wanting to get involved with the SOUP event are asked to contact Samantha by emailing samantha.powers@onward.co.uk