Supporters of some of Marlborough’s best-loved charities and community organisations have just over a week to help them grab a share of a £6,000 jackpot in the Frasers Budgens of Marlborough Community Giveaway.
The Community Giveaway is being staged by Oxfordshire-based retail group Fraser’s, who are opening a petrol station, Budgens convenience store and Subway outlet at Marlborough Business Park in the autumn.
Until Firday 7 September, a public poll will select nine finalists from three categories – Health, Wellbeing and Social; Communities and the Arts; Education and Young People.
The finalists will be invited to pitch their projects to a live voting audience at Theatre on the Hill in Marlborough on Thursday 27 September, when representatives from each community group are invited to pitch their ideas from the theatre stage to a voting public.
While there’s a lot of money at stake, the emphasis will be on fun, with organisers insisting the event will be more like Britain’s Got Talent than Dragon’s Den.
The three community projects that receive the most votes on the night will walk away with cheques for £1,000. And all of the nine finalists will get a share of another £1,000 over the first three months of the new forecourt opening.
With just over a week of voting remaining, Marlborough Brandt Group are leading the the Education and Young People category with 32 percent of the vote, with Savernake Forest Scout Group, who have 28 percent, in second place. The Merchant’s House Education Programme is in third place with 25 percent.
St John’s School (12 percent) and Savernake ExplorerScout Group (four percent) won’t secure a place in the final unless they can muster some more votes.
In the Health, Wellbeing and Social category, Wiltshire Air Ambulance have maintained their lead with 56 percent of the votes, Splitz – KidzPace are still in second place with 23 percent, and Carer Support Wiltshire have 15 percent.
National Childbirth Trust have four percent and SWIFT Medics have two percent. They need to rally the support of their friends for a place in the final.
And in the Community and the Arts category, Phoenix Brass Band, with 59 percent of the vote, have increased their lead over Marlborough Communities Market, who have 32 percent.
We Love Marlborough’s nine percent is still enough to win them a place in the final, unless Kennet Accordion Orchestra, Kennet Valley Arts Trust, Marlborough Concert Orchestra and Marlborough Community Orchard can up their game.
Readers wishing to cast a vote, or to apply for a grant on behalf of their community organisation, should go to www.facebook.com/BudgensMarlborough and click the red ‘vote’ button.