The first #BristolSoup blog!
The all new Bristol Soup kicked off in style! It was a February night at the St Paul’s Learning and Family Centre and tonight Soup was based in the cafe with amazing tasty and ethically sourced soup from Surplus Supper Club who source caterer’s food that would otherwise go to waste. The fantastic people at Hobbs House Bakery also supplied us with some delicious bread.
The conversations were already flowing as one after another person came through the doors and paid their £4 to get the Soup and a Vote. Connections were already being made before the event even started. The large cafe space gradually filled...to the point where if there had been a few more....they might not have fitted in!
The 4 brave pitchers were nervous but they had had some top grade training from James Cullen of Orate Mate earlier in the week. The funky jazz playing from the band also helped relax the mood.
The formalities began.
First to pitch was Phil from Legs 4 Africa. False legs in the UK are not recycled and so his team takes them abroad to meet the need in developed countries. They needed cash to send more.
Next was Homeless Pay It Forward who made a heart-warming appeal to help homeless people in the city to start a new life.
Then Annali of Litterarti who was appealing for cash to tidy up and develop an area under the M32, particularly to clean up the river and develop the skate park for young people.
Sam from Bristol West Indian and Phoenix Cricket Club told us about how she helps young kids with their cricket skills, running many teams herself and how she would use the cash to buy equipment for them.
The pitches were all unique, worthy and inspiring. The causes were all so different and each pitch taught us something new. This made choosing who to vote for virtually impossible!
The soup was served and voting time commenced! Lovely bread and some beautiful home baked cakes and snacks accompanied the delicious three options of soup from Surplus Supper Club.
The winner was announced – Bristol West Indian and Phoenix Cricket Club won, in a very close race!
Sam was really pleased and had a further offer of help of funding from a member of the audience to boot. Sam’s son, a team member at the Cricket Club was there to celebrate too.
After the voting, several organisations made appeals about local activities and organisations such as Surplus Supper Club based at the St Pauls Learning Centre Café and Age UK Bristol.
You never know how a first night will go. But Bristol Soup showed that it can go off with the BANG! And that there can be a huge exchange in one event – it certainly was not just the winner who got something out of the experience!
Sam has even sent over a lovely photo of the kids at the cricket club with their new cricket equipment!
