Pitch to the Panel: An opportunity for a local community project to win a share of £100,000.

An opportunity for a local community project to win a share of £100,000.

Greenham Common Trust is delighted to announce a new initiative in which £100,000 is being offered in a Dragon's Den style competition this autumn.  Pitch to the Panel will form part of The Greenham Exchange - Getting the Community Together - an evening of celebration and networking for the local voluntary sector on Thursday 12 November at the Corn Exchange in Newbury.

Local charities and community organisations in West Berkshire and North Hampshire are invited to participate in Pitch to the Panel.  Applications are invited via www.findmeagrant.org for funding for new projects or initiatives under £15,000 (minor projects) and over £15,000 (major projects).  Once you have created your application on findmeagrant you need to email events@greenham-common-trust.co.uk and request your application is entered for Pitch to the Panel.  In order to qualify, minor projects need to have raised £1000 and major projects £2000 (including Gift Aid and Trust Top Up match funding on donations through www.findmeagrant.org ) by 31 August 2015.  A shortlist of six applicants (3 minor and 3 major) will be drawn up who will be invited to present to the panel and audience at The Greenham Exchange at the Corn Exchange on the evening of Thursday 12 November. Shortlisted applicants will be offered the services of a mentor to help them prepare their pitch or consult on their project once funded.

After the presentations the panel will deliberate and award funding to the projects, and members of the audience will be invited to vote for their preferred project.  Each audience vote will represent a donation of £1 of “public top up” which will be provided by Greenham Common Trust.

The public will also be able to vote on-line before the event for their preferred project and for each vote registered the Trust will allocate an additional £1 of “public top up” to the project, subject to an overall maximum of £10,000.

For details of how to apply for funding by Pitch to the Panel and full terms and conditions please click here or visit www.pitchtothepanel.com.

The closing date for applications to Pitch to the Panel is 31 July 2015 - so don't delay, apply today!

Further details regarding The Greenham Exchange and how to apply for tickets will be available nearer the time.