‘Dragon’s Den’ event helps local projects

The event, organised by Harborough District Council, was held at The Symington Building in Market Harborough and saw community and volunteer groups from the Harborough district, as well as parish councils invited to share new ideas for possible projects. 

Attendees were invited to pitch their projects to a panel made up of Harborough District Council, Leicestershire County Council, The Big Lottery Fund, Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation, Market Harborough and Bowden's Charity and Voluntary Action Leicestershire. 

Cllr Rosita Page, Harborough District Council’s portfolio holder for communities, said: “Although inspired by the popular BBC television programme Dragon’s Den, it was a much more informal and relaxed occasion. Unlike on television, no-one used the words ‘I’m out’! The funders listened to a number of impressive presentations and helped advise those pitching ideas on how they could help bring their projects to life.”

Lindsey Knott, from The Big Lottery Fund, who sat on the panel, said: “This was one of the best events I have been involved in over 28 years of my working life in and with the community! As a group of ‘dragons’, we provided information about our own grants but there was a real collaborative and, where appropriate, strategic approach.”

Groups and individuals will meet again with members of the panel over the coming weeks to assess how projects can be taken forward.