Two years ago, as the newly installed Bishop of Bath and Wells, Bishop Michael attended a charity fundraising event, the grant-giving lunch Wells SOUP! Launched in April 2016, by Wells Independents, SOUP! is designed to support local charities and projects. It is a quarterly programme of fund-raising lunches and the money raised goes towards supporting good causes in Wells and the surrounding area. Following his first visit Bishop Michael suggested an event take place inside Wells Cathedral. This month that idea came to fruition.
The latest event was held in the transepts of the cathedral with all 120 spaces filled. Four local charities were the recipients. The event not only raises money for them it also helps to raise their profile locally. Visitors attending the cathedral event heard from a volunteer with Youth with Future, a charity which supports young people who are homeless or who are threatened with homelessness, who shared how their charity had spent the money they received from SOUP! in October.
Bishop Michael opened the lunch saying: “SOUP! is one of the best things that happens in Wells and I am really grateful to the Dean and Chapter and Virgers for making this possible.”
The four presenters from local charities and organisations were:
- Eliza Wylie, from Music for Wellbeing, which provides a warm and friendly space to bring together people living with dementia, but which almost ran out of money last year, shared details of the charity.
- Michelle Blackmore of Owl Enlightment, explained how interacting with owls can improve people’s mental health, reduce tension and blood pressure. She told how one person who was normally silent began to speak after meeting one of their owls.
- Sue Isherwood said Dance 4 Parkinson's brought people with this progressive disease together and was therapeutic.
- Wells Youth Club brought six young people who shared with the audience why they liked going to the club.
Then those gathered marked their crosses on the voting forms. The Youth Club got the most votes and received half the £700 prize money. It will be spent on a trip to an activity centre. The other three charities shared the rest of the money raised.
Speaking after the event Bishop Michael said, “SOUP! is a brilliant initiative here in Wells and it was wonderful to see January’s meeting take place in the Cathedral. As always, it was extraordinarily moving to hear the stories of the excellent work being undertaken by the four causes that presented to those of us that gathered to hear them.
“So much news at this time is about gloom, challenge and destruction. SOUP! is one of the best possible antidotes to this that anyone can take. It reminds us powerfully of human goodness, dignity and of all that can be achieved when we work together for good.”
Ross Young, who organises SOUP! on behalf of Wells Independents, said: “We give huge thanks to all who took part and contributed to such a wonderful, worthwhile event.”