COMMUNITY spirit came to the fore as people joined together over bowls of soup to choose a project deserving of a funding boost.

The first ever Basildon Soup event took place on Saturday, April 22 at the George Hurd Centre, in Audley Way, Basildon.

Community groups were invited to submit proposals before the event, with four ideas being shortlisted to be pitched to the audience at the meeting.

The winning project, as voted for by the audience, received all the entry money raised, as well as an additional £100 donated by Basildon Council’s community involvement team.

The event, inspired by the success of the Southend Soup scheme, aims to bring people together to eat while supporting community start-up projects by networking to see how individuals and groups can help one another.

A and N Counselling CIC was the first group to speak, with Kevin Palmer speaking passionately about a scheme to offer free counselling to those who could not afford it.

Mark Pytka, the organiser of Clean Up Basildon, spoke about his volunteer group’s mission to tidy up the borough’s parks and educate young people to reduce littering.

Helen Webb, from Basildon Parents4Parents, explained how her group of community volunteers were offering free one-on-one parental support to anyone in the borough in need of help, while Liane Swainland spoke of her ambition to reinvigorate Laindon’s war memorial flower bed.

Whilst the votes were being counted, Danny Lovey from The Rotary Club of Basildon Concord, talked about Mayfest 2017 and how to get involved.

Carla Andrews, founder of Motivated Minds, spoke about her latest projects around health and well-being and reducing social isolation for young and older people.

The winner was announced as Basildon Parents4Parents, which will use the £220 grant to extend their service to include a drop in.

The next Basildon Soup will take place later this year.

If you would like to get involved, either by having a stall or helping out on the day, or would like to get in contact and support any of the projects mentioned, please email communityinvolvement@basildon.gov.uk or call 01268 208224.