I came across a very interesting article in the Guardian today, considering my research agenda and own, limited experience, in volunteering for third sector organisations.
'Soups' are a US import where local groups are given a brief pitch to gain the funding to take their ideas forward. There is plenty of evidence for the effectiveness of these settings; many social connections made, much social capital carried and of course many success stories as featured in the full article: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/aug/01/soup-revolution-changing-cities-over-dinner-detroit-liverpool
What of the loser's however? While I haven't been to a soup before, I have seen a number of similar contests, including one at a major planning and environmental conference. Not for the first time, we are trying to put the spirit of entrepreneurialism back into deprived communities. However, in contrast to the structured initiatives and funding systems of the recent past, can the merits of a project or idea really be assessed on the basis of something akin to an 'elevator' pitch?
Image: kind courtesy of FoodiesFeed: https://foodiesfeed.com
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