I find the festive season is a great time to reflect on what you're grateful for both in the year that's been and more holistically. It gives you a moment to ground yourself in the chaos of consumerism and it helps me focus on what I want to do more of in the coming months and years.
One of the things I was particularly grateful for last year was Liverpool SOUP and the two events which we hosted, I couldn’t be more grateful for all the people involved in setting them up and ensuring that they run smoothly - the committee members, the volunteers, the venues and the pitchers themselves - not to mention all the people who show up to support the grassroots projects who pitch on the night. I can't say it enough, thank you.
So to kick start the year, we checked-in with some of the people who contributed to our successes of 2019 and we asked our the question:
What was your proudest achievement last year and what are you most looking forward to during 2020?
Arthur, the founder of Plastic Tactics and pitcher at our October Liverpool SOUP.
"What I am proudest of in 2019 is Plastic Tactics at Africa Oye. We sourced plastic on-site and from the local community, and enabled anyone who stopped by to be part of the process of shredding it and making it into new stuff. At the time, running that kind of event was well outside my comfort zone and it was a real confidence builder to see that it wasn't just the core team who thought enabling people to recycle their own plastic was a good plan. Africa Oye is an iconic local festival and it was brilliant to be part of that and bring something new to it.
It was a joy to see the passers-by respond to seeing plastic being turned into something new in front of their eyes, and see the gears turning about what it is and how we use it, and whether we want to change our habits and systems. In 2020 I'm most looking forward to bringing that experience into all other kinds of events and organisations, and building out our Plastic Playground so we have permanent home to invite people into on top of offering our travelling workshops."
" I was delighted to feature Liverpool Soup in the Baltic Triangle podcast and get the word out about the great work they do. Liverpool Soup personifies the very best of what the city is all about - exemplifying the power of individuals to enhance the lives of our communities."
Patrick Hurley, one of SOUP's very own Committee Members and Chief Executive of Inclusive Economy Liverpool.
"What I'm most proud of in 2019 was being re-elected as a member of Liverpool City Council in May. I've been a councillor since 2011 and it's the third time I've been up the election. It's always nerve-wracking and you never know what's going to happen, but I'm really pleased that my neighbours and the people in the wider community offered me their support again.
In 2020, I'm looking forward to loads of things. But the one thing that I've been thinking about mostly today is that I've got tickets to see two of my favourite musicians, Luke Haines and Peter Buck, at the Hebden Bridge Trades Club in April. It's been 12 years since I last saw Peter in concert and probably about the same since I last saw Luke, so it's a real treat to get them playing together and in such a great venue."
The Ullet Rd Church Rebels are going from strength-to-strength since their pitch by Chris Allen at October's SOUP, keep up to date with their latest fixtures via Twitter.
Croxteth Community Garden were our winners back in June last year and are currently busy planning for the 2020 growing season, they post updates via Facebook and Twitter.
Hannah Forbes, fellow SOUP Committee Member and Founder of The Funding Crowd.
"I finished 2019 with another successful campaign with The Funding Crowd. We helped Farm Urban raise £25,000 for their Greens for Good campaign. I’m hoping to help lots more social enterprises raise funding in 2020!"
Andrew Beattie, the wonderful photographer for our October event.
"For a lot of the year, 2019 felt like a bit of a slog with its weird politics, fast deadlines and general sense of work and life being out of control. And so I’m proud to see that many, if not most, of the people and projects, businesses and things, I care about in Liverpool got to the end of it in one piece, and in many cases flourished. I take heart in that. It also leaves me feeling excited and hopeful for the year ahead, the start of a new decade. What can the communities that I am part of achieve in 2020, or even the next decade? I’m very excited to find out."
Liverpool Audio Network, who pitched at our June event last year are gearing up for their Electronic Sound Summit (28th Feb – 1st March); they exist to help creatives achieve their ambition in the music industry while also celebrating electronic music culture.
One September Art are the heart and brains behind Humanise Me Community Film Club who were awarded £650 at our last SOUP in October. They have been keeping busy making a new piece of theatre based on the ideas, feelings and experiences that led to the formation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The piece will be performed at Edge Hill University in Autumn 2020 before going on tour.
Louisa Burman, Co-Founder of Liverpool SOUP.
"I'm so proud of how much the Liverpool SOUP events grew last year, they teach me more and more about the best of Scouse values, like compassion, hard graft and generosity - they inspire me to do more for the people around me. I really looking forward to seeing how the events grow and develop over 2020 as we work hard to ensure that the concept is sustainable so we can continue to run events long into the future.”
If you're as inspired as we are by looking back over the last year and reading about the achievements of people in our ever growing SOUP community, register for our next event 13th February.
If you're thinking of applying to pitch, we want to hear from you! Applications close midnight, 30th January and you can apply by completing this short form.