River Tame project triumphs at Mossley SOUP #17

Reclaim River Tame delivered a winning presentation at Mossley SOUP #17, securing the most votes and £1,408 raised by event attendees.

On Thursday 9 May, our team of volunteers hosted the seventeenth Mossley SOUP event, sponsored by Premier Kia, at Emmaus Mossley. More than 140 diners were in attendance, each donating £5 in return for soup, entertainment, presentations from four local projects and a vote.

Local musician Jon Mambo welcomed diners as they took their seats and enjoyed freshly made soup. Four presentations followed, with each having four minutes to share their project or idea, followed by four questions from the audience.

The four projects presented at the event were Mossley Hollins High School Year 10 Student Leadership and Management Project, Mossley Radio, Reclaim River Tame and Tameside Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group.

After the presentations, diners cast their votes, a fundraising raffle was drawn and then the winning project was announced. Sam Clayton presented Reclaim River Tame, a project to swim from the source to the end of the River Tame to raise awareness of sewage pollution.

Sam said: “I was nervous about pitching at Mossley SOUP as it’s intimidating to talk in front of a crowd and I didn’t know if my project would be that well received. I was surprised and very chuffed when I found out I had won!”

Reclaim River Tame received £1,408 raised from donations on the door, the raffle, a £250 donation from Emmaus Mossley and £100 from Premier Kia. The three runners-up also received £100 each towards their projects from event sponsor Premier Kia.

Four freshly made soups were prepared by local volunteers Neil Barry, Sarah Birkett and Dave Jones. Soup ingredients were donated by A Taylor & Son Family Butchers, Co-op Mossley and The Veg Lord, and cakes were donated by event attendees. Raffle prizes were kindly donated by Hatch Bakery, Mossley AFC, Mossley Home Improvement, Pizza Love, Salsa Beauty Rooms and The Vale.

Project ideas are being sought from individuals, artists, community groups, charities and businesses for the next Mossley SOUP event, planned for October.

If you attended this event please take a minute to complete our short feedback survey.