SOUP, a graphic of a steaming bowl of soup Meet, Eat, Pitch, Vote

SOUP is coming to Southampton and Portsmouth!

Date: 28 April 2025 Author: Energise Me

An exciting community event is coming to areas of Southampton and Portsmouth, giving local people the chance to pitch (and vote) to win £500 to bring their ideas to life and help get local communities moving more.

Thanks to investment from the Place Partnership Development Awards, the Southampton Place Partnership and Active Portsmouth Alliance are working with Action Hampshire to deliver a series of SOUP events to fund physical activity projects that you want to see in your local communities.

What Is SOUP?

Inspired by the Detroit SOUP model, the event brings people together over a bowl of soup to hear pitches from local people, community groups or organisations who have ideas to get their families, friends and neighbours more physically active.

At each event, four individuals will pitch their projects – whether it’s a new walking group, a youth fitness programme, a dance class, or anything that gets people active. Each presenter has four minutes to win over the room. After all the pitches, the audience casts their vote for the project they want to see come to life.

The winner walks away with £500 to make their idea happen, as well as the money raised from ticket sales. Your attendance boosts the prize pot!

Do You Have An Idea?

If you have a project idea you want to pitch, you can:

Attend one of the information sessions in Southampton (Weston, Thornhill and Millbrook), Portsmouth (Buckland and Landport) or online to find out more about the SOUP process and get tips to strengthen your application. (Note: you don’t have to attend one of these sessions to submit your ideas!)

Submit your application by 20th May 2025, via Soup Funding Application Form.

Come Along and Have Your Say!

This isn’t your typical funding process. SOUP puts the decision-making back into the hands of local people. It’s fun, informal and a great way to connect with others in your community.

All are welcome! How it works:

Find the event closest to you and purchase your £3 ticket (which includes: entry, soup and a bread roll, and your token to vote)
Show up to the SOUP event at 5.45pm ready for a 6pm start
Enjoy your soup while listening to the finalists pitch their projects and socialising
Vote for the project that you’d like to see supported
See who gets the prize money to kick off something new in your area