Two Ridings Community Foundation, the regional funder who distributed £3 million worth of grants in 2020–21, and the High Sheriffs of both North Yorkshire and East Riding are inviting community groups, local charities, and other not-for-profit organisations in the region to apply to pitch at their Dragons’ Den event in October this year.
They are looking for six organisations, from North and East Yorkshire, including Hull and York, to make a five minute presentation to local business people keen to invest in and make positive change in the region.
Hosted at Birdsall House, Malton, by kind permission of The Hon. James and Lady Cara Willoughby, the Dragons’ Den event is on Thursday 14 October 2021 and starts at 5.30 pm.
A panel of six Yorkshire ‘Dragons’, along with a friendly audience, will listen to each groups’ pitch; and much like the TV series, they will award funding to the projects they are presented.
Unlike the TV series, though, no one goes away empty handed. Each group will come away with between £2–5K of funding, and the opportunity to raise their profile and network with key Yorkshire business people interested in their work.
Two Ridings stress that groups don’t have be brilliant at presenting to apply and that it is all about the passion they have for the project they do: “You don’t have to be brilliant at presenting to apply; what you need to be able to do is get across who you are, what you do, why it matters, and what funds you need in a short, passionate, five-minute pitch. We are interested in your project and how it benefits people in your area, not a professional pitch.”
The whole idea of the event is to showcase the amazing charitable groups Two Riding fund in Yorkshire. “Our aim is to really showcase you, the groups we work with. We want to show how you make a difference right where it is needed, so please do not hesitate to apply.”
Groups interested in applying should fill in the application form by 31 July 2021.
Chosen groups will be contacted by the end of August 2021.
People who want to attend Dragons’ Den can buy a £30 ticket, which includes Drinks and Canapes. All revenue from ticket sales go to pitching charity groups.