Dewsbury Soup #4 – was held at Shackletons store on 2nd May 2019


As usual organised by Joanne Bell, Gary Cox & Victoria Ward – with a lot of help from amazing supporters. Dewsbury Soup only started in May 2018, so that’s 4 Soups in one year. This one raised a record £538 for the winner – Siblings Matter.

The money raised comprises the donations on the door – 72 people attended; plus drink sales; raffle tickets (prizes donated by PPG; Asda; and Switalski’s); and the silent auction of a chair donated by Shackletons – that’s a first, we have never been offered a chair before.

The four pitchers were STAN, a group who provide somewhere for older people to go and want to start a second group to show films; Batley Outreach Kitchen who need to rebuild their kitchen; Dewsbury Street Angels, the first street angels group to provide support during the day; and Siblings Matter, who want to start a group for the siblings of children with disabilities.

We also had a record number of bribe slots – a sixty second slot to promote something to the audience – Natural Kirklees promoting their event at Mirfield Showground on 8/9 June; The Red Box Project explaining their project to provide sanitary goods to schools; Switalski’s raising awareness of their services; and Purpose of Life promoting their Feed the Homeless & Needy events during Ramadan.

Quote from Fr Gordon Newton who pitched for STAN : “There were some very good groups and causes pitching. It would be fabulous if everyone could win. Even though we didn't win the vote, we have gained a lot simply by pitching. A couple of people said that they might have a projector that we can have or borrow. We might achieve what we wanted without winning.”

And this on Twitter from Kumon Y’all who won Soup#3 : “The soup party. I’d like to see that manifesto I promise to: Highlight amazing local causes A decent night with local people Fab networking events Good entertainment Raise funds for local causes Bring people together #gotmyvote”

Why Shackletons? Liam Cowling, Marketing Manager : “We were honoured to be able to open up our showroom to Dewsbury Soup for their fantastic event. We have been based in the Batley / Dewsbury area for 60 years. To mark this achievement, we felt it was important to give back and help promote such a wonderful community that has been our neighbour for such a long time. We're thrilled the evening was such a great success for the Dewsbury Soup team, all the pitches and especially Sibling Matter. We know that the money raised is going to a fabulous cause.”

We couldn’t do this without the amazing donations we receive; and the people who come along to help on the night. Thank you to everyone involved.