Hi,
We all had the privilege to be seconded to Business in the Community as Business Connectors in North Kirklees, in total our secondments totalled three years but stretched over a period of almost six years.

Huddersfield Soup already exists, so does Sheffield – we wanted to create one for North Kirklees. Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it – North Kirklees Soup, so for now it is Dewsbury Soup but open to anyone living in North Kirklees or who has an idea to benefit people in North Kirklees, it could move to other towns in the area in future.

The audience can live anywhere – they just sign up to say they are coming along, and pay a minimum of £5. The first Dewsbury Soup will be at Howlands on 16th May from 7pm.
But to need an audience, we need something for them to watch – the pitchers. Pitchers can be from a charity, a community group, a business, anywhere so long as they live in North Kirklees or have an idea/project which would benefit and be delivered in North Kirklees. They are asked to complete an application form, which is reviewed by a panel of judges, and on the night 4 ideas are pitched, for 4 minutes each, with 4 questions from the audience. The only criteria are that they need to be people who need our help to get an idea, project or business off the ground, or support an existing project or business to fund something they need.
The judges also need to live in North Kirklees, and can nominate themselves. They will be sent all the application forms and select the top 4 for them, based on their own criteria. The combined judges scores determine who gets to pitch on the night.

For the minimum £5 donation – some people do give more – the audience gets a chance to see all 4 pitches, a voting chip to decide who they want to win, a bowl of soup, and some entertainment plus time to chat with other like-minded people. The audience vote using their chips – and the winning idea takes the money. That’s the pot of donations – the entry fees – and a cut of the proceeds made from drinks provided for a donation (because obviously we wouldn’t be running a bar without a licence!). In Huddersfield they usually get around 70 attendees, and the winning pitcher walks away with £350 to £450. The other three pitchers got a chance to showcase their idea; and any other activities they may be involved in. The audience had a good evening and felt they were giving something back. Same for the judges – the organisers were probably in an exhausted heap in the corner…

So why are we doing this? We saw what they are doing in Huddersfield and thought we should bring it to Dewsbury, Batley & all the surrounding areas of North Kirklees. And as ex-Business Connectors we thought we would make a good team, could create a legacy for the area – and as you know very little gets in our way.

So what do we need from you? Lots of help – from donations of food, bread; loans of PA equipment or voting chips; entertainment – musical ideally; volunteers to be judges & to help out on the night; promotion of the event so people pitch and come along to watch; and plenty more we haven’t thought of yet. We really need to use your extensive networks – we know how well connected you are and want to make sure as many people as possible are aware, contribute and benefit from Dewsbury Soup.

Get in touch by email – dewsburysoup@outlook.com.

Thanks again,

The Dewsbury Soup team

P.S Want to start your own Soup, have a look at this.

To submit an application to pitch, download and complete the application form here.

Then email the form to dewsburysoup@outlook.com.

We thought “bribe” would get your attention.

Do you want the opportunity to promote something for 60 seconds at Soup? It could be your business, job opportunities, services provided by your community group or a local event etc. We have 4 places at each Soup event for the tiny price of a small item of finger food for the audience (up to 100). It doesn’t need to be elaborate. It could be as simple as crisps for the tables or biscuits or chocolates to go with coffee. In exchange you get a soap box to wax lyrical for 60 seconds, note though that this is strictly timed and we do have a shepherds crook for those who run over! Any surplus food will be donated to a local group and will not go to waste.

If you are interested please contact us on dewsburysoup@outlook.com stating briefly what you want to promote and what you will bring along. This opportunity is on a first come first served basis but we will keep a waiting list for future Soups.

The Dewsbury Soup Team

If you live in North Kirklees and would like to help decide who gets to pitch on the night please contact us on dewsburysoup@outlook.com stating your name, postcode and email address. You will be emailed near the event with more details on voting for your top 4 choices.

The Dewsbury Soup Team