Dragon backs community schemes

A ‘dragon’ and entrepreneur from BBC 2’s Dragons’ Den is backing a new competition for health and wellbeing groups

James Caan (pictured) is lending his support to a Dragon’s Den style Pitch Your Project scheme for organisations that benefit the health and wellbeing of their community with the support of volunteers.

Five short-listed projects will get £500 to develop a pitch and then will go before a panel of experts to compete for £1, 000 cash while being filmed.

Caan, who listens to innovative ideas on the BBC show, said: “My advice to organisations pitching is to prepare by putting yourself in the shoes of the dragons and thinking about the sort of questions they might ask.”

Pitch Your Project, which is ran by national volunteering charity TimeBank in partnership with the NHS Foundation Trust Network, is open to projects such as sports clubs, patient support groups or befriending schemes based in the community or institutions.

It is initially being run in Northumbria, Sheffield and South Stafford Healthcare Trust regions. To find our more or apply interested projects should take a look at: www.journeystohealth.org or ring Jane Dawson on: 0845 456 1668 or email her at: j.dawson@timebank.org.uk.  The Deadline for applications is 3 March.