A NON-profit charity has held a Dragons Den-style event to decide which local projects would receive a generous grant.

Lodden Valley Lions Club held its “Lions Den” event for groups and good causes to pitch ongoing projects that the club could then partially or fully fund with a grant of up to £1,000.

The event took place on Saturday, October 15 and saw a four-man panel made up of high-ranking club members hearing seven presentations from a total of eight applicants.

The panel consisted of Loddon Valley Lions Club president Jane Saunders, treasurer Geoff Foan, fundraising chairman Eddie McGrath and membership secretary Vanessa Tolson-Goddard.

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The panel was also assisted by Loddon Valley Lions vice-president John Goodchild, who helped to coordinate the event through the club's website.

Basingstoke Gazette: Avril Burdett from Turbury Allotment CharityAvril Burdett from Turbury Allotment Charity (Image: Loddon Valley Lions)Each applicant had 10 minutes to pitch why they should receive a grant.

Those who pitched to receive a grant included Mortimer Preschool, which hoped to fund bespoke staff training on early years speech and development; Turbary Allotment Charity, which would put the money towards purchasing tools for essential maintenance of Silchester Common; and Clift Surgery, Bramley, to receive funds to purchase a specialist coach for use during medical examinations at the surgery.

Further pitches were given by Hurst Wellbeing Garden, to provide a sensory space to support students with additional needs; the Tadley Scout Group to refurbish the kitchen of the Diamon Scout Hut; Citizens Advice Tadley to fund an energy project supporting clients at risk of fuel poverty; and Burnham Copse Primary School to cover the costs of canine-assisted learning dogs.

Basingstoke Gazette: Gemma Rowlands from Burnham Copse Primary School, accompanied by WilfGemma Rowlands from Burnham Copse Primary School, accompanied by Wilf (Image: Loddon Valley Lions)All the participants were successful in receiving grants from the club, which granted a total of £5,900.

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The money for the grants was raised at the Treacle Fair held in June of this year.

Speaking after the event, Vanessa Tolson-Goddard said: “What we normally do with our Treacle Fair money is we normally give it to two or three charities in our catchment area.

Basingstoke Gazette: Naomi and Gloria Bailey from Tadley Scout GroupNaomi and Gloria Bailey from Tadley Scout Group (Image: Loddon Valley Lions)“But this time we decided we would get smaller charities involved, little charities, to give smaller amounts of money that would do some good.

“We’ll definitely do it again!”