MUDDY Boots, a community gardening project in Bemerton Heath, which works with people living with dementia and their carers, was selected the winner of the first Salisbury Soup.

The project took away £320 to buy tools and equipment for the project.

Soup, a community crowd-funding dinner held at cafe Quench, saw more than 50 people attend the event, each paying a donation for their ticket which contributed to the crowdfunding pot, and got them a meal of soup and bread as well as a vote.

Put together to "connect people and empower individuals who are thinking creatively about their community", the event is based on the concept which started in Detroit in 2010 and which is now replicated across the globe.

During the evening in Salisbury, four pre-selected community projects were pitched to the audience, who were then invited to vote for the project they wanted to be selected to received the cash boost.

The four projects that pitched for support were Salisbury Repair Cafe, Multitude of Voyces’ ‘Makaton Mass’, Nurture That Sparkle’s ‘Toddle Yoga’ and the winners Foragers Farm ‘Muddy Boots’ project.

Each of the projects benefited from the opportunity to raise their profile and gain support, attract new volunteers and increase their network.

Organiser Rebecca Maddox said: "We were thrilled to have such a great turnout for the event. The money raised makes a big difference for grassroots community projects like Muddy Boots.

"We hope that those who came to the event will go away feeling encouraged and inspired that they can make a difference even with the simplest idea to benefit their community."

Salisbury Soup was organised and hosted by Quench, with soup provided by The Pantry Partnership, and the bread donated by business Nicholas and Harris.

The next Salisbury Soup will take place on March 25.

If you’d like the opportunity to pitch an idea or a project, contact Rebecca Maddox on 01722 412351 or rebecca@quenchsalisbury.com