COMMUNITY groups have netted thousands of pounds after SOUP evets returned to the calendar.
In Mossley, weekly youth club S.P.E.L.L. secured the most votes at the town’s latest crowdfunding event, bagging £1,447 raised on Thursday, March 17.
Access All Areas, presented by members of Mossley Community Centre, Lifeline Community Ambulance, presented by John Gilmore, Painting the Town, presented by Mossley Town Team and pupils from Mossley Hollins High School, and S.P.E.L.L. presented by Lindsey Tweed from Mossley Youth Base, each made a pitch.
After the presentations, diners cast their votes and enjoyed a live piano performance by Brian Rothwell.
Before the winning project was announced, Tanya Roberts from George’s Den, winners of the last Mossley SOUP, gave an update on how the project had progressed.
S.P.E.L.L. is a free, weekly youth club for ages 7 to 12, based at Mossley Youth Base.
After speaking to young people, the group would like some outdoor play and gardening equipment.
Now that the nights are getting lighter, the young people want to spend more time outside, to play, socialise and grow together.
And Lindsey said: “We are thrilled to have secured this money for our young people.
“It means so much to them and they have already started planning what they want to buy. It will be used for outdoor equipment so we can make the most of the garden.”
As well as entrance donations of £5 from each of the 140 diners at Emmaus Mossley and £200 donated by Premier Automotive, the winner’s pot included funds raised from a raffle.
Prizes were kindly donated by Bettie’s Pets, Donkeystone Brewery, Mossley AFC, Salsa Beauty Rooms, Scona Café, Suki’s Wardrobe and The Railway Fish and Chips.
Dave Jones, Mossley SOUP volunteer and MC, said: “This 12th event was a brilliant way to mark our fifth anniversary and the Mossley community did us proud with a fantastic turn out.
“We had four fantastic presentations and a very worthy winner in S.P.E.L.L.
“I love presenting this event and being part of a truly unique way of a community giving to itself. Roll on Mossley SOUP 13!”
In Hattersley, their latest SOUP event saw pitches from Arike Lanlehin from Ark of Hope promoting her Nigerian activities across the estate, while Stacey Booth from Remembrance Services launching her new fundraising project to provide defibrillators across the area.
Tracey Ford, a local resident, shared details of a neighbour garden project that she is working on that had been started during Covid-19 lockdown to help people manage their mental health during the pandemic.
And Jacqui Marsland promoted her Knit and Natter Creative Club, which meets weekly at the Hattersley Hub and helps support local people to learn new craft skills, improve their mental health and give back to the local community.
After enjoying their meal, attendees voted on their favourite presentation and after votes were counted Stacey was the evening’s winner with Jacqui scooping second prize.
Samantha Powers, Social Investment Specialist for Onward Homes, said: “The SOUP provides the perfect opportunity for our local community come together to celebrate and support the projects making a real difference in Hattersley.
“We are looking forward to holding more events like this in the future and would encourage local residents to come along and get involved.”
Michaelle Lukanu from Action Together stated, “I’m really pleased I came there are some fabulous projects here and I’ve met some people who I didn’t know so I will be able to help them with their projects in the future.”
• Project ideas are being sought from individuals, artists, community groups, charities and businesses for the next Mossley SOUP event.
To find out more and submit a proposal, head online to http://bit.ly/MossleySOUP.