Community money - invested by the community

Category: Dragons’ Den

The Radstock & Westfield Big Local run a grant giving event, called Dragons’ Den. This is where individuals and organisations who have an idea of how to make our area an even better place to live, pitch to the audience of local residents who then decide what projects they want to see happen in the community. Each winner is awarded £500 to bring their idea to life.

Here are a number of reports from the winners.

The Amazing Confessions!

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We’re pleased to have heard from Jaydean Dawkins, founder of the Confessions of the Youth Theatre Company, who let us know how they got on with the funding from our Dragons’ Den 6. The young people who made an brilliant pitch were awarded £500 to write and perform a musical, involving the community. Here’s what
-> Continue reading The Amazing Confessions!

Westfield Voices Vocal about their Improvements!

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Westfield Voices weren’t always known by that name, in fact they won a grant at our Dragons’ Den 6 to help them to re-brand (including new equipment) from Westfield Ladies Choir – a name that has been well known in the community for decades, but was beginning to restrict what they wanted to do going
-> Continue reading Westfield Voices Vocal about their Improvements!

Walking Festival in Radstock & Westfield

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The Somer Valley Walking Festival gave a great pitch to the voting public at Dragons’ Den 5 and were awarded funds towards promoting the festival to our community. They wrote in to let us know how it went: All the events ( opening talk, short walks , longer walks and family walk and art walk) 
-> Continue reading Walking Festival in Radstock & Westfield

The Plastic Fish Starts Long Journey at The Somer Valley Arts Festival (in Radstock)

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One of ten winners at the 2018 Big Local Dragons’ Den event, local resident Christopher Lewis-Smith, working with Bath Avon River Trust and a number of local schools, used the funds to build a giant fish from plastic collected from the river running through Radstock. The final touches were applied to it at The Somer
-> Continue reading The Plastic Fish Starts Long Journey at The Somer Valley Arts Festival (in Radstock)

Dragons’ Den 6 an Awesome Community Effort – What an event!!!

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What an amazing community spirit showcased at this year’s Radstock & Westfield Big Local Dragons’ Den event… Thank you for all your effort and time … together we really can make positive things happen! Well done to everyone who took part and big thanks to the audience/voters who numbered around 180!!! See the photos on
-> Continue reading Dragons’ Den 6 an Awesome Community Effort – What an event!!!

For the Love of Running!

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Jim Gump spent 10 months running across the US, visiting schools along the way to inspire children to enjoy running and being active. Local residents voted for him to receive a grant at our fifth Dragons’ Den in order to get that excitement and inspiration back home and to schools in our area. We’re really
-> Continue reading For the Love of Running!

Radstock Museum Make the Most of their Window of Time

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Radstock Museum were one of the winners at our fifth Dragons’ Den. Residents present at the event voted for them to receive £500 towards making the appearance of the museum even more stunning! Miranda Litchfield, the Development Programme Coordinator for Radstock Museum, has been in touch to let us know how the funds have made a
-> Continue reading Radstock Museum Make the Most of their Window of Time

Radstock Juniors Club Developing Skills and Confidence

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The Radstock Juniors Club were chosen by local people, at the 5th Radstock & Westfield Big Local Dragons’ Den, to be funded to provide fun yet educational activities to their members. The Radstock Juniors Club draws members from Radstock, Westfield and the surrounding area. Children aged between 11 and 18 that are affected by a
-> Continue reading Radstock Juniors Club Developing Skills and Confidence

SWAN driving Radstock and Westfield residents forward

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SWAN Transport were one of the winners of the 5th Radstock and Westfield Big Local Dragons’ Den, receiving £500 towards providing transport for local residents who are older, frail or disabled on low incomes. They told us that Swan “was first set up by a social worker 32 years ago who recognised the need for
-> Continue reading SWAN driving Radstock and Westfield residents forward

Exploring our wonderful heritage

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Local residents present at the 5th Radstock & Westfield Big Local Dragons’ Den, chose to grant the Somer Valley Walking Festival £500 towards bringing interesting and engaging walks to our community. Councillor Jon Bull has been in touch to let us know how the festival went: “All the events ( opening talk, short walks ,
-> Continue reading Exploring our wonderful heritage