Preston Soup Review 2016

Feb, 25 2016

~It’s been a successful American networking and entrepreneur event. Situated in the Midwestern U.S, the great lakes region and in Southeast Michigan, ‘Detroit Soup’ , has seen the lives of ambitious, business orientated individuals pitch their idea/concept to an open, non-judgemental audience.

There is a voting process and the winner of the pitchers  is announced at the end of the evening. The bonus? :- a warm bowl of soup and a chance to connect in a relaxed setting with like minded people who thrive on challenges and wish to get their business proposal off the ground.

Now the UK is taking the initiative in organising events under the similar moniker as the U.S. one. ‘Preston Soup’ took place on Wednesday evening the 24th February 2016.

There were four presenters in total. They all had four minutes each to pitch their idea. They were :-

1. Preston Food Champions :- Ann Kingston. This was designed around having group of volunteers with specified training to spread the word about health eating. From buying local and seasonal produce - using fresh locally produced ingredients.

2. The Man Cave Project :- Haley Foscke. Facilitated by a psychologist and a counsellor, this group seeks to bring men together on weekly basis to work on real and societal issues.

3. Caring Hands Dementia Cafes :- Liz Walker. The Dementia Foundation began as a group to help and support those who  have close family members with dementia. The Café side is a work in progress and extra funds are needed for it to become time out for the carer of a dementia sufferer.

4. Waltons Parade Garden Project :- Andrea and James.
Designed for those with long term mental health conditions as platform to help them to stay well and eat well. Gardening and cooking is built in the programme. An open day has been scheduled for residents of Preston to come and visit the scheme and see the project.

Two minutes was added on for audience members to pitch their ideas yet this was not cast into the voting process. It just gave an opportunity to connect and network.
With a £3.50 entrance fee and a warm bowl of soup to eat on a chilly winters night in Preston, all it took now was the voting process to begin
then the winner would be announced.

37 people in total all voted and the ultimate winner was pitch number 4, ‘ Waltons Garden Project’. An excess of £200.20p was raised for Andrea and James which was the overall sum of the entrance fee by all who attended.

Congratulations to Waltons Garden Project! The CCGUK wishes them every success as they help to build the lives of those affected by enduring mental health conditions.

Thanks to everyone who made the first of many Preston Soups, a reality. They were, in total :-

* Nigel Stewart and Caz Heyworth from The Creative Network.

* Kay Johsnon from The Larder.

* Russell Hogarth, Craig Laverick and Nigel Farnworth from The Creative Communities Group.

* Sofia Anysiadou and Lisa Simpson from The Worldwise Learning Centre.

* Ismail Karolia from The Health and Social Work, Care and the Community at UCLAN.

*Sally Bate and Blaine Walsh from The School of Management at UCLAN.

Food came courtesy of Fare Share at Recycling Lives, prepared by UCLAN. Salad by Mille at Dice and Donuts Café.

In the words of ‘The Man Cave Project’ support group, Haley Foscke,

“The World is a great place if you don’t listen to the news”.

Here’s to the next creative hubbub ‘Preston Soup’ and long may it’s organisers, designers and audience participants look on the bright side of life and keep inspiring others in a new and innovative way.