Liverpool SOUP and Fit for Me are joining forces to offer the opportunity for social entrepreneurs to bid to help improve the physical activity levels of Liverpool people.

Fit for Me SOUP offers the chance to be awarded a grant from Liverpool City Council to develop and implement new ways of reaching inactive people and increasing physical activity levels.

Official figures suggest that 63 percent of people in Liverpool do not do at least 30 minutes of activity a week. As part of a plan to improve health outcomes, the Physical Activity and Sports Neighbourhood team is looking for innovative solutions from social entrepreneurs across the city.

Mayoral Lead for City Wellbeing, Councillor Tim Beaumont, said:

“Liverpool has a wealth of talented people with great ideas and Fit for Me SOUP gives a chance for individuals with proposals related to physical activity the chance to showcase and potentially win funding to implement them.”

Sandra Davies, Director of Public Health for Liverpool said:

“Fit for Me SOUP gives a great opportunity for local people to take charge and choose the initiatives they think will get people moving in the city.  A key part of Fit for Me is getting the public on board, and what better way to do this than by asking them to shape the activities offered locally.”

Jon Gordon, Chair of Social Enterprise Network said:

“The SOUP concept is really simple and anyone can attend a SOUP gathering.  For a small donation on the door, each attendee is entitled to soup, bread and most importantly, a vote.

“Four social entrepreneurs pitch their brightest idea to the crowd, with an encouraged focus on tackling social and community issues.  After a chance to ask questions and consider the projects, each audience member casts their vote for the best pitch and the winner walks away with the ticket profits from the evening – and the knowledge that complete strangers have just given them a vote of confidence.”

Fit for Me SOUP takes this approach a step further.  At this special event, potential bidders will be asked to pitch their idea to members of the public, who vote for the best idea. The winner of the vote will be awarded a grant and additional support from the Physical Activity Neighbourhood team to implement their idea.

The first FIT for ME Soup event will be held in Liverpool on Thursday 27th October 2016 at Tempest Building on Tithebarn Street at 3pm.  Anyone, from any age can turn up to vote. Any donations on the door are also passed on to the winner of the vote for them to spend on implementing their projects. The more people who come along and join in, the greater the public engagement and the more chance of making sure the project succeeds. 

Applications are currently being accepted from anyone with a great idea to improve the activity levels of people in Liverpool. Simply email info@sen.org.uk for details. The event is open to the public on the day.

You can follow Liverpool SOUP and FIT for ME campaign on Twitter – @LiverpoolSOUP and @FitForMeLpool