Unique event saw £15,000 awarded to local projects
Winchester City Council invited local voluntary and community groups to apply and pitch for money in a Dragon’s Den-style event. Nine out of the 18 applicants were shortlisted to pitch to seven ‘dragons’ on Thursday 2 February. The dragons were a panel of people made up from a variety of community interest backgrounds.
£15,000 was distributed to local projects by the panel of dragons at Winchester City Council’s first unique Funders’ Den. The event was supported by Community First Winchester and co-funded by Tent on the Green and Winchester City Council.
Winners on the evening were KIDS, they provide a wide range of support services to disabled children, young people and their families. KIDS pitched for funding to enable the training of young facilitators in the Winchester area.
Cllr Steve Miller, Portfolio Holder for Estates & Community Grants said:
Local voluntary organisations were able to walk away with their grant award on the night. Organisations networked and learnt about other group activities in our district. WINnovation is one of the many ways in which we award our grant monies throughout the year.
Steve Abley, Director of Burn 24-7 Winchester, Tent on the Green and Burn 24-7 UK Local Initiatives. Musician and Missionary said:
It was a real honour to be part of a new face-to-face grant award process rewarding innovation and creativity. Both the Burn 24-7 Winchester and Tent on the Green organisations are looking for ways to actively increase the amount given by Christian believers in the city into such projects.
Melissa Fletcher, Funding & Development Officer, Winchester City Council said:
This funding stream generated a lot of interest and is a unique and interactive way to award our grant monies. It was fantastic to see that people were genuinely pleased when their pitching efforts were rewarded.
Find out how the Council can help your organisation with a grant http://www.winchester.gov.uk/community/grants/