Young people enter ‘Dragons’ Den’ to bid for £100,000
From Press Office on 25 September 2008
A group of young people will face a panel of ‘Dragons Den’ style judges this Saturday to get their hands on £110,000 to help with youth projects in Solihull.
The nine groups will pitch their bids to the panel of eight Duncan Bannatyne and Deborah Meaden types from Solihull Youth Council who are responsible for the distribution the Youth Capital Fund.
The groups will have 30 minutes to impress the panel with presentations and follow-up questions to win a slice of the funding which is given to all Councils from central Government, specifically for young people to spend on improving facilities and the services they use.
The short-listed groups bidding this year include:
0 £50,000 to refurbish and develop four local youth centres including two in Shirley, one in Auckland Hall and one in Knowle
0 a £35,000 bid by Solihull Leisure Opportunities which wants to buy a specialised minibus for young people with learning disabilities
0 £83,000 to renovate Penygeulan Cottage in Powys which is used by schools from Solihull
0 £3,500 to develop an ICT suite in Craig Croft, Chelmsley Wood, for young people in care.
Panel member, John English, 17, from Solihull Youth Council, said: “It’s a great privilege and responsibility to be a part of this panel, all the projects that we have received are worthwhile causes and I will look forward to seeing the approved projects going ahead."
Details of the successful projects will be available on http://www.solihullyouthspace.org/ next week.
Anyone who’s interested in getting involved in distributing the Youth Capital and other Funds in Solihull can call Nicki Gilbert on 704 6314 or ngilbert@solihull.gov.uk
For media enquiries only, Nina Scott 0121 704 6444
Email: nscott@solihull.gov.uk