0:00:02 > 0:00:04Across the UK, there are many people who would love to do something
0:00:04 > 0:00:06they think will enhance their community.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Let's not leave the beach as we found it.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Let's leave it a little nicer.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12But what they are lacking is the money
0:00:12 > 0:00:14to get their bright ideas off the ground.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17My project needs your vote!
0:00:17 > 0:00:20We're giving individuals the chance to kick-start their venture
0:00:20 > 0:00:23with donations from their own communities.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Brilliant, come on in them! Come on!
0:00:26 > 0:00:29But to win that pot and to make dreams a reality,
0:00:29 > 0:00:32they first need to win over an audience of locals,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35who will be voting for their favourite idea.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Is it going to be open for 24 hours a day?
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Would this be sort of an annual event?
0:00:39 > 0:00:41What are your running costs likely to be?
0:00:41 > 0:00:43All across the country, there are local heroes,
0:00:43 > 0:00:45prepared to go the extra mile
0:00:45 > 0:00:48to make our communities better places to live.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50It's a very... Sorry.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Unusual for me. Very emotional.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56They just need a helping hand to get their ideas up and running.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00The champion who you have voted for is...
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Welcome to the Regency spa town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17It's the gateway to the Cotswolds and, it's fair to say,
0:01:17 > 0:01:19one of the prettiest towns in the UK.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24The stunning architecture alone is enough of a reason to visit.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28And, since its spa waters were discovered in the mid-18th century,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Cheltenham was placed firmly on the tourist map.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36But Cheltenham has two faces and, like most towns in the UK,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38there are areas that are struggling.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43St Mark's and Hesters Way, home to over 3,000 households,
0:01:43 > 0:01:45are amongst the most deprived in Britain,
0:01:45 > 0:01:50and local community groups are doing their bit to support their needs.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Tourists still come from all over the world,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55not so much for the spa water now,
0:01:55 > 0:01:59but for the world-renowned jazz, literary and music festivals
0:01:59 > 0:02:02that leave this city buzzing.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05But for most of us, when you say Cheltenham,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08you just think of one thing - horse racing.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12The Gold Cup is the peak of the jump racing season and in March,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16these stands are full with tens of thousands of racegoers,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19hoping their horse will come in first. It's our base for today.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22The odds are one in four for our community champions,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26so there's only one thing left to say - we're under starter's orders.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31The four locals hoping to make their dreams come true
0:02:31 > 0:02:33are passionate gardener Chris,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37who has theatrical hopes for his unique venue.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39- Was that last minute prep there going on?- Yeah, it really was.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41It was, yes. But I'm not go to show you.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43How are you feeling before you go on?
0:02:43 > 0:02:45What I'm committing to doing is very special to me
0:02:45 > 0:02:47so, yeah, I've got to try and get it right.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49Also pitching today is Lizzie,
0:02:49 > 0:02:53who says the best way to unite a community is through food.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56How many times have you been practising your pitch?
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- Not enough, I don't think.- No? - No.- Are you a bit nervous?
0:02:59 > 0:03:02I've gone past nervous. I'm now delirious.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Powerchair football fans Brian and Harry want all abilities
0:03:05 > 0:03:07to get involved.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12- Have you done any speaking in public before?- Not to this extent.- Ooh...
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Not to this extent. Very minimal.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17A face for radio, not for pitching normally.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20And professor Michelle wants to turn our unwanted clothes
0:03:20 > 0:03:21into designer items.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24- How are you feeling? - I'm feeling good, yeah.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27I'm really looking forward to talking to everybody, yeah,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30and talking about my project. I'm really passionate about it.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31Well, I'll let you finish.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I don't want to take up too much of your time.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- I just wanted to say good luck and see you later.- Thank you so much.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Each of the four community champions have an idea
0:03:39 > 0:03:41that could really help their local area
0:03:41 > 0:03:44but to get the money that could make it happen for real,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47first they need to win over their community.
0:03:47 > 0:03:52It's that time. Shall I open the door or not? I'd better.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54Hello, hello.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57We are open for business. Come on in. Nice to see you.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59You all right? Hi, nice to see you. Hello, hello, hello.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Local people have been invited
0:04:03 > 0:04:05to hear what our community champions have to say
0:04:05 > 0:04:08and will later vote for their favourite pitch.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10As they come in, they can make a cash donation
0:04:10 > 0:04:12towards the community fund.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Hello, Cheltenham. Good day, Cheltenham.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Got it! Clipboard. Thank you very much indeed.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30Check, check, check. It's showtime. We're off.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Hello!
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- Hello, Cheltenham! AUDIENCE:- Hello!
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Thank you for coming out to support the local area.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Thank you for coming together to see four special people.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50I'd like to call them People's Champions.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Now, the champions will be coming out here
0:04:52 > 0:04:55and they will be pitching to you their personal passion -
0:04:55 > 0:04:58an idea that they think will benefit the community most.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00All you have to do is pick your favourite,
0:05:00 > 0:05:04vote and then the winner that gets the most votes will take home
0:05:04 > 0:05:07the money which you have kindly contributed to.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Let's start with our first pitch.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Now, this is from a Cheltenham local
0:05:11 > 0:05:16who believes that gardening and theatre should go hand-in-hand.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20- Please welcome Chris Evans. - Here goes.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:05:24 > 0:05:26- Good luck, Chris.- Thank you.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- Hello.- AUDIENCE:- Hi.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33My name is Chris Evans and I'm here to represent
0:05:33 > 0:05:35a project known as the Butterfly Garden.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Chris Evans has gardening in his DNA.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43He took over the running of his grandfather's nursery
0:05:43 > 0:05:47and garden centre on the outskirts of Cheltenham 25 years ago.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49From my first moment in this paradise,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52which is a rural setting on the edge of Cheltenham,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55I was mesmerised by everything natural.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59I have, over time, developed a close connection, an intimacy with it.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Chris quickly realised the therapeutic effects
0:06:02 > 0:06:06of working with plants and nature and turned the garden into a charity
0:06:06 > 0:06:09which offers educational, therapeutic
0:06:09 > 0:06:11and recreational projects
0:06:11 > 0:06:14for children and adults with disabilities of any kind.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19People were turning up day after day and, today, I have 243 students.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Thankfully they don't all come in one go, but most days,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26I will expect to see between 40 and 60 people on the site.
0:06:26 > 0:06:30What was a fairly ordinary garden centre 15 years ago
0:06:30 > 0:06:33is now an extraordinary place of learning.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35What Chris developed here
0:06:35 > 0:06:38is an area where people, whatever they're involved in,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40it's not about gardening per se,
0:06:40 > 0:06:44it's not about working in a workshop, it's just creating
0:06:44 > 0:06:48an atmosphere and an environment where people thrive and excel.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Chris is an ideas man.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57He's just had this fantastic ability to have an idea and then,
0:06:57 > 0:07:01within a very short space of time, make things happen and make it work.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04The garden now covers six acres
0:07:04 > 0:07:08and is a mixture of plots, greenhouses and classrooms.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12As the project became more diverse, we started to explore the arts
0:07:12 > 0:07:14and suddenly a drama group had formed
0:07:14 > 0:07:17and then the logical extension of that was the need
0:07:17 > 0:07:22for a performance space, and so we created an amphitheatre,
0:07:22 > 0:07:26a space that's used by all sorts of groups on this site -
0:07:26 > 0:07:30by our puppeteers, by our musicians, by our drama group.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33It's a space that's used by other organisations.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35What's your name?
0:07:35 > 0:07:38To maximise the amphitheatre's potential,
0:07:38 > 0:07:40he needs sound and lighting equipment.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Currently, it can only be used in daylight hours
0:07:43 > 0:07:47but Chris hasn't got the funds to develop the stage's full potential.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Sometimes there is a gesture that requires a sound
0:07:51 > 0:07:54or requires a flash or requires a light,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56and all of those things we're not able to offer.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00The electrical work needs professional installation
0:08:00 > 0:08:03and, without new funds, this cannot happen.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Chris's dreams of a new professional theatre venture
0:08:06 > 0:08:10for the whole community simply won't happen.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14I need the money for the power. We've got to turn our lights on.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18We want to switch on this project. We want to move it forward a notch.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Somebody said, "Why do you do all of this?"
0:08:22 > 0:08:24I want to liberate the mind.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28In all of us, there is something that needs to be out there.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30In all of us, there is something that is magical,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32that we can bring to the table.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34We should all be encouraged to believe it's there.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40It is colour, it is life. And the power is at the heart of it.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43When I came and said I was coming for the presentation,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47they said to me, "You can bring gadgets and you can bring gizmos
0:08:47 > 0:08:49"and you can dress up or you can just wave your arms about."
0:08:51 > 0:08:55So, I took a bet, and I'm going to excuse myself for a second.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00This is all about...
0:09:00 > 0:09:03CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:09:06 > 0:09:08This is all about the belief
0:09:08 > 0:09:13that we are all entitled to a colourful life.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17I ask all of you, at the end of this evening,
0:09:17 > 0:09:23to consider voting for me to switch on the light for somebody else.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25I need power on my stage
0:09:25 > 0:09:27so that the place will be more magical
0:09:27 > 0:09:29than it is currently. Thank you.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32APPLAUSE
0:09:32 > 0:09:35For his outside theatre power upgrade,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Chris needs £300 for electrical cable installation,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41£100 for basic lighting and £50
0:09:41 > 0:09:44to purchase a new sound system.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46- All right?- Good, thank you.
0:09:46 > 0:09:51- How did that go? - Yeah, it was good. It was good.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53I like a colourful journey.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56We'll open the floor now, Chris, and take a couple of questions.
0:09:56 > 0:09:57Who's got a question for Chris, please?
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Gentleman in the green sweater.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03Hi, Chris. Great pitch. What are your running costs likely to be?
0:10:03 > 0:10:06The running costs are not going to be horrendous.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10We're not talking about an event that's going to be running
0:10:10 > 0:10:12day after day after day,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15so it'll cross a long period of time and we'll put on shows.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19My expectation is that, probably, in a calendar year, 10 or 12 shows.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23But what appeals to me more is the access to the resource
0:10:23 > 0:10:25for the three people that want to do it.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Somebody said to me, "What about the weather?"
0:10:28 > 0:10:31If I have three students who want to perform something
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and I have ten students who want to watch it,
0:10:33 > 0:10:34I want to be able to do that.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37There will be running costs but I'm comfortable that we'll meet them
0:10:37 > 0:10:40with a revenue from the people that visit.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44A round of applause, please, for Chris Evans. Chris.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47American research into the benefits of performance art
0:10:47 > 0:10:51for disabled adults suggests increased cognitive growth
0:10:51 > 0:10:54and greater engagement within the community.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57I can understand people having questions about the running costs
0:10:57 > 0:10:59and I can understand people having concerns
0:10:59 > 0:11:02and I can understand them having concerns about longevity,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05in terms of weather, but that isn't how we work.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Next, we're talking sport.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Not any old sport - powerchair sport.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Now, for anybody that doesn't know what that is,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16when you hear the next pitch, this gentleman is determined
0:11:16 > 0:11:18that you will certainly know what it's about.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Please welcome Brian Dix.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:11:26 > 0:11:28- Good luck, Brian. - Thank you very much.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Hi, everybody. My name is Brian Dix
0:11:32 > 0:11:35and I work for a company called Goals Beyond Grass.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39GBG are a charity that specialise in looking after disabled people
0:11:39 > 0:11:41in the sport of powerchair football.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Basically, what we do, we take any disabled person,
0:11:45 > 0:11:46no matter what they've got wrong with them,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49we bring them down to a sports hall, we put them in a chair
0:11:49 > 0:11:52and we let them express themselves in our lovely game of football.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59As a lad, Brian Dix always wanted to be a professional footballer.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02But when he was turned down by his local club at Bristol,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04his career took a very different path,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06when he signed up for the Royal Navy.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09I'd just joined the Royal Yacht Britannia,
0:12:09 > 0:12:11which was one of the highlights of my life so far.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Normally, when you join the Navy,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17you spend time marching around and doing parade shows,
0:12:17 > 0:12:18but I missed all my basic training
0:12:18 > 0:12:22and went straight to play football for the Navy, so love the sport.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24- Could always have a quick game of murder ball.- Yeah?
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Get them going, those reflexes.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29He left the Royal Navy in 1990
0:12:29 > 0:12:31but his passion for all sports continues,
0:12:31 > 0:12:35in particular, the relatively new sport of powerchair football,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38which enables disabled players to play the sport
0:12:38 > 0:12:41in an adapted electric wheelchair.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Yay!
0:12:47 > 0:12:50When people ask me why am I involved in chair football,
0:12:50 > 0:12:52you've only got to look over my shoulder
0:12:52 > 0:12:54and see why I'm so passionate about it.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57It's their only chance they can excel and express themselves
0:12:57 > 0:13:00in a sport that there is no other way for them to do it.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Whether they've got a disability in speech, a disability in walking,
0:13:03 > 0:13:07they can express themselves to the full, playing powerchair football.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Brian set up the charity Goals Beyond Grass in 2016,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15with the aim of encouraging all abilities to take part
0:13:15 > 0:13:18in social and physical activity, using powerchairs.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21They now have five teams in the Southwest,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25plus he has a member of the 2007 England powerchair squad
0:13:25 > 0:13:28signed up to pass on his expertise.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31About three or four years ago,
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Brian asked me if I would pass on my knowledge
0:13:35 > 0:13:38and help promote the sport in the area.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Keep going, Gem, keep going!
0:13:40 > 0:13:44What we found, talking to carers and parents, is that,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47when the players come back, their coordination improves,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49their strength improves but, more than that,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52they're included in something.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Yes! Yes! Great skills.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Brian wants to spread the message to a much wider local audience,
0:14:00 > 0:14:05by offering free taster sessions for competitors of all abilities.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09But the cost of hiring the indoor courts is £100
0:14:09 > 0:14:12for a three-hour session and he simply doesn't have the cash
0:14:12 > 0:14:14to start this new initiative.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Our pitch is very simple.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19We want to put on five sessions, open sessions,
0:14:19 > 0:14:21free to anybody to come along, try the sport,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23see if they look like it, able-bodied and disabled
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and, hopefully, they'll continue to be part of it.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28The social side, you can't we put a price on that.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29These guys coming together,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32having a laugh, constant banter and enjoying ourselves.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35That's what we're looking to do - get a bit more community spirit,
0:14:35 > 0:14:36get everybody enjoying it.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43What I've got with me today is a guy called Harry Shenton.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Harry is a player who's been playing powerchair football
0:14:46 > 0:14:48since, oh, about 15 years now.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Harry's going to give you an insight
0:14:51 > 0:14:54of how it's like being disabled and what sport means to him.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56So, let me introduce you to Harry Shenton.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:15:03 > 0:15:07- Hi, everyone.- AUDIENCE:- Hi.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11Powerchair football is my sporting life.
0:15:11 > 0:15:16I was born with cerebral palsy which, put simply, means
0:15:16 > 0:15:22I can't jump out of this chair and run round a normal football pitch,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25like most of you could if you wanted to.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30Powerchair football enables us disabled people
0:15:30 > 0:15:35to play a competitive sport on equal terms,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37on an indoor basketball court,
0:15:37 > 0:15:41using specialist sport powerchairs,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45like the chair I'm currently sitting in.
0:15:45 > 0:15:51Powerchair football is enabling disabled people
0:15:51 > 0:15:56to take part in a fun, competitive sport...
0:15:58 > 0:16:03..which has a pathway to international status.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And that level is my goal.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Harry, thank you very much.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17In the audience tonight, we've got young Gemma.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19Gemma's been playing football for three years.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22APPLAUSE
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Gemma's the reason that I keep going
0:16:27 > 0:16:31and a lot of my team and players and friends are also involved.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34What we want to do is the taster sessions we want to put on,
0:16:34 > 0:16:39with your help, is get more people involved on a day-to-day level,
0:16:39 > 0:16:43whether it's playing football, coaching, whatever you want to do.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44It's a very... Sorry.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52It's all right. Listen, that's what the heart does for you.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54You want to speak from the heart. It's all right.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57We're all friends here, don't worry. Don't worry.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59- WHISPERS:- They'll use it against me.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00LAUGHTER
0:17:00 > 0:17:02No, they won't. No, they won't.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05- I'm here for you, mate. Go on. - Cheers, mate. OK.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10So, as you can see, it's quite an emotional sport.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13But with your help, to get more people involved,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16for every £100 we get, we can put on one big session.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19And with that session, we might get
0:17:19 > 0:17:21two or three people like Gemma come through,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24and the dad who's now a coach who helps as well.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Altogether, with the community,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29it makes a brilliant difference to everybody.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32APPLAUSE
0:17:36 > 0:17:39For his powerchair football open sessions,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Brian needs £100 for each three-hour venue hire.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45I feel like I don't want to throw you out there to the lions
0:17:45 > 0:17:48with the questions, but I've got to do it, Brian.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51And I'm sure there's lots of people as well that have got
0:17:51 > 0:17:53lots of thoughts going through their mind.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57Who would like to start off with the first question for Brian, please?
0:17:57 > 0:18:02- Hi, Brian.- Hi.- Is this sport just for disabled participants?- No, no.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Anybody can come down and join in. We want everybody to try it.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08The reason it makes it so special is because
0:18:08 > 0:18:10say, if yourself came down and got in a chair,
0:18:10 > 0:18:12you're on the same level playing field.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14And that's what's beautiful about this game.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16It's all one level, disabled or not.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20Thank you for your question. Another question for Brian, please.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Gentleman with the check shirt. What's your question, please?
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Brian, it's a great idea and I can't imagine it not being a success.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29But what are you going to do if too many people sign up?
0:18:29 > 0:18:31We would love that to happen. We would love that to happen.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Basically, at the moment, when we play our games,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38our home game is based in Taunton, Plymouth or Exeter.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40That's our home games.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42So, we have to get everybody on the coach or in their cars
0:18:42 > 0:18:44and travel all the way down there.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46What we'd love to do is have enough people to build
0:18:46 > 0:18:49our own Gloucestershire league, so that these guys can play local,
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and that's what our dream would be.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Round of applause, please, for Brian Dix. Brian.
0:18:53 > 0:18:58Only 17% of disabled adults play sport once a week,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01compared to 36% of able-bodied adults.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04But, in a recent survey of wheelchair users,
0:19:04 > 0:19:0874% said they would like to be more involved in sport.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Unusual for me. Very emotional.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13I look out in the audience and there is little Gemma in her chair
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and, because the effect that she has playing football,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18it's very emotional for me still now, it's crazy.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22- Right, quick question. Anybody hungry? AUDIENCE:- Yes!
0:19:22 > 0:19:24I wasn't expecting THAT!
0:19:24 > 0:19:28Well, I'm sure you'll take a lot of interest in our next pitch,
0:19:28 > 0:19:29because our next pitch believes
0:19:29 > 0:19:33that the way to get through to communities and bring them together
0:19:33 > 0:19:34is through food,
0:19:34 > 0:19:38- so please welcome Lizzie George. - Here we go.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42CHEERING
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- Hello. Thank you.- Good luck, Lizzie. - Thank you.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Hi, hi. I'm Lizzie George
0:19:49 > 0:19:52and I've lived and worked in Cheltenham West
0:19:52 > 0:19:54for the last 12 years.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57I work at Create On The Square,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00which was a disused retail unit,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04but which now is a vibrant hub at the centre of the community,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06where people come to work, rest and play.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Business development officer and mother of six Lizzie George
0:20:11 > 0:20:16has three passions in her life - her family, Cheltenham and food.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21My passion for cooking came about cooking for my family,
0:20:21 > 0:20:26so I would make big stews and big roast dinners
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and I've got a Welsh background,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32so I used to like roast lamb and mint sauce.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37And I love baking and I'd bake big tray bakes.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38Thanks very much.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41She lives and works in Cheltenham West,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43which isn't normally on the tourists' maps.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46This part of town has high unemployment
0:20:46 > 0:20:48and a need for better housing,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51but Lizzie wants to see the area thrive
0:20:51 > 0:20:53and is proud to sing its praises.
0:20:53 > 0:20:54I love living here.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56I love the community side, the friendships,
0:20:56 > 0:21:01just the energy to be part of something.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Lizzie created a community space for locals 18 months ago.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Some people come here and set up their own businesses,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11other people come here just for a pot of tea and a conversation.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14One local businessman credits Lizzie
0:21:14 > 0:21:18with helping him get his vegan burger business off the ground.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19Lizzie is brilliant.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22I think, when I came here and I was launching the business,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25she gave me loads of advice and she's been able to help me
0:21:25 > 0:21:26propel the business forward.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Now Lizzie wants to expand on the success of her current projects,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33by getting more of the local community together
0:21:33 > 0:21:36with a new series of multicultural food evenings.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Loads of people live here
0:21:38 > 0:21:41and loads of different cultures have moved into the area
0:21:41 > 0:21:44and it's really important to be able to appreciate
0:21:44 > 0:21:49and value what someone else is bringing to our community
0:21:49 > 0:21:51and we do that by food.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53I'm not only excited to teach Indian food
0:21:53 > 0:21:56but I'm very excited to learn
0:21:56 > 0:21:58other countries' food also,
0:21:58 > 0:22:04like African, Polish, Greek, Spanish.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I'll be really excited to find out
0:22:06 > 0:22:09how to cook Indian, authentic Indian food,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13and to see how they combine all these different kind of spices.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16So, these are little tea lights?
0:22:16 > 0:22:19If we were successful with this pitch,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23we would offer cook and share and learn workshops,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25so it's all about cooking,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28it's all about sharing your food and your culture,
0:22:28 > 0:22:30and people would be able to learn
0:22:30 > 0:22:32and be able to do those recipes at home.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35But the existing resources are sparse
0:22:35 > 0:22:40and, as this is a new project, funds are needed to make it happen,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42starting with basic kitchen equipment.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49So, your vote will kick-start a series of four cooking workshops
0:22:49 > 0:22:52for the community, bringing people together.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54So, if we were lucky enough to win tonight,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57£200 would buy us an oven.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02250, we could just add a tabletop electric ring to cook things on.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05£300, we could add a food processor.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10So, I'm not a professional cook, my middle name is not Mary Berry,
0:23:10 > 0:23:13but I have friends who can cook.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17Please welcome my friends, Hema and Viva.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20CHEERING
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Really good, really good.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27Hello, I'm Hema Bongirwan.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29I have brought cornflakes mix.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33It's based on an Indian traditional recipe.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Hello, everyone. I'm Viva Andrada O'Flynn.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38I've made these lovely cupcakes.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42They're chocolate-vanilla flavoured, with cinnamon and ginger.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44It's a festival of flavours.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:23:49 > 0:23:53And for the vegans amongst you, I've made some vegan shortbread.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57I'm not trying to sway the vote but, boy, can these ladies cook!
0:23:58 > 0:24:02So, this project is important for my community
0:24:02 > 0:24:06because Cheltenham West has been seen as the poor relation
0:24:06 > 0:24:08to the posh Regency spa town.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11It's one of the most deprived areas in the UK.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15We've got unemployment, lack of training opportunities.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19But our community is now a multicultural community
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and this should be celebrated with pride.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Imagine what we could achieve, all of us together,
0:24:25 > 0:24:30because we came together to share, learn, eat together.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Thank you.
0:24:32 > 0:24:33CHEERING
0:24:33 > 0:24:36For her communal cooking nights,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Lizzie needs £200 for a new worktop oven,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41£50 for an electric tabletop ring
0:24:41 > 0:24:44and £100 for a food processor.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- You all right?- No!- Well done.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Let's open the floor for some questions for Lizzie.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Who's got the first question? Young lady there, please.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58You mentioned, already, a number of nationalities,
0:24:58 > 0:25:02but how many nationalities would you have, in any given session, cooking?
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Well, we would have one nationality doing the sharing at the time,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10but we can have up to four teams of participants,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13so we could have any number of people all coming together to cook.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18Thanks for your question. Another question. The lady in front.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Can people just come along and learn how to cook
0:25:20 > 0:25:22if they haven't got the money to pay for a course?
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Just for those under-privileged people, can they learn some skills?
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Yes. So, for the purpose of this project,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31- all our workshops are going to be free.- Lizzie has spoken.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Thanks for your question. Lizzie George, everybody.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35- Lovely.- Thank you.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Well done, well done.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44Yes, I'm so glad that's over.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Hands up who's got an outfit in the back of their wardrobe
0:25:48 > 0:25:51or in the front that they never wear?
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Anybody? Come on, you've all got an item of clothing
0:25:55 > 0:25:58where you've gone, "I never wear that."
0:25:58 > 0:26:00And your partner or your loved one says, "Well, throw it out."
0:26:00 > 0:26:03And you say, "I might just need it.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05"There might be one day where I just might need it."
0:26:05 > 0:26:07My wedding dress.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Your wedding dress! LAUGHTER
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Yeah, that's true, that's true.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14You might want to take notice of our next pitch
0:26:14 > 0:26:18because the next lady, Michelle, wants to take your unloved clothes
0:26:18 > 0:26:20and turn them into designer pieces.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24And the best bit is she wants to help the community in the process.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26So, please welcome Michelle Williams.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30APPLAUSE
0:26:30 > 0:26:33- Good luck, Michelle.- Hello. - Good luck.- Thank you.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle Williams
0:26:36 > 0:26:38from the University of Gloucestershire
0:26:38 > 0:26:41and I'm the course leader of the product design degree there.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46Product design lecturer Michelle Williams is a big fan
0:26:46 > 0:26:48of making and mending.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50I started making clothes with my mother
0:26:50 > 0:26:52when I was really, really young
0:26:52 > 0:26:57and really enjoyed designing and making from a very young age.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00I like beautiful colours and flamboyant clothes
0:27:00 > 0:27:03but I don't like to spend a lot of money and I really hate the waste.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07But I really like textiles, I really like clothes,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09and I like to modify them.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12So, this is one of my favourites.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15This is quite special to me. This is my wedding dress.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19I bought it at a charity shop for £35.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23What I did, with one of my very good friends, we modified it,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26just to make it a little bit smaller and more fitting for me.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30But it's not just Michelle who is a huge fan
0:27:30 > 0:27:32of the make-do-and-mend attitude.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Once a month, in St Andrew's Church, in Cheltenham,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38a Repair Cafe is held where local community members are invited
0:27:38 > 0:27:41to bring their broken household items and clothes along
0:27:41 > 0:27:43to be fixed for free.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Ta-da!
0:27:46 > 0:27:49We're trying to empower people, trying to encourage them
0:27:49 > 0:27:52to repair their goods themselves, so we repair it with them
0:27:52 > 0:27:54and prevent all those electrical items
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and all those clothes going into landfill.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59With a repair like that, you either make a feature of it
0:27:59 > 0:28:03or you try and hide it, so it looks invisible.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05The attitude we seem to have these days is,
0:28:05 > 0:28:07"I can't be bothered. I'll buy new one."
0:28:07 > 0:28:09And it's so cheap and easy to buy,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12not necessarily the best quality new one,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14but it's easier than sitting and...
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Apparently, it's easier than sitting and sewing a button on.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Hi, I've brought in a couple of items.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20They don't fit me any more
0:28:20 > 0:28:23but I was hoping we could maybe create something for my daughter.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26OK, so we've got a velvet skirt.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29The benefits of the Repair Cafe are we accept
0:28:29 > 0:28:31that not everyone has those skills and equipment
0:28:31 > 0:28:33so, by providing a place like this,
0:28:33 > 0:28:36then it's a very useful community vehicle for them to come.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Let's have a look at it. Let's have a look at the back.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Oh, that's beautiful! Look, you've got denim...
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Building on the success of the Repair Cafe,
0:28:44 > 0:28:48Michelle plans to pitch a new project that would join together
0:28:48 > 0:28:52the skills of local fashion students and the volunteer seamstresses.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54What we're going to do is create these wonderful workshops,
0:28:54 > 0:28:58where we can use all these textiles, all these clothes
0:28:58 > 0:29:02that have been, could be thrown away in landfill,
0:29:02 > 0:29:04and we're going to start helping people
0:29:04 > 0:29:06to design and make their own clothes.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09- I helped design it. - You helped design it!
0:29:09 > 0:29:12So, we've got a future designer-maker. That's great.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15Michelle hopes the new project will enable the community
0:29:15 > 0:29:19to exchange skills, build confidence and reduce textile waste.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21But there's one thing missing.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23At the moment, we're lacking the general equipment
0:29:23 > 0:29:25to make these clothes,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28so we need some sewing machines, we need some zips,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31we need some cotton, we need some buttons,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35so that we can create these wonderful repurposed clothes
0:29:35 > 0:29:37with our community.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40I don't know if you realise,
0:29:40 > 0:29:44but about 1.1 million tonnes of clothes are purchased
0:29:44 > 0:29:46each year in the UK.
0:29:46 > 0:29:52But, unfortunately, 800,000 tonnes of waste is going into landfill.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54So, what I'd like to do with these group of people,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57that I've already created the Repair Cafe with,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01is create some designer-maker workshops with the community.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03We want to share those skills,
0:30:03 > 0:30:07that the retired people and the volunteers already know,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10with the younger people and possibly people that don't realise
0:30:10 > 0:30:12that they're really, really talented.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15So, what I've done today, I've brought some beautiful clothes
0:30:15 > 0:30:17that have been made by some of my students.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19This is a skirt, would you believe.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23It's absolutely beautiful. It can be worn as a skirt, but also as a top.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26So, if you vote for me, we'll be able to buy,
0:30:26 > 0:30:29with £350, one sewing machine.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33But if we have £700, we can have two sewing machines
0:30:33 > 0:30:36and then, maybe a little bit more, we can have some accessories
0:30:36 > 0:30:38and to help people of Cheltenham
0:30:38 > 0:30:42and the whole of Gloucestershire get together and learn these new skills
0:30:42 > 0:30:46and prevent all these waste materials going to landfill.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49APPLAUSE
0:30:49 > 0:30:51For her sewing repair project,
0:30:51 > 0:30:56Michelle needs £350 for an industrial sewing machine
0:30:56 > 0:30:58and £48 for accessories.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01APPLAUSE
0:31:01 > 0:31:05- Well done.- Thank you.- Well done. - Thank you.- Well done.- Thank you.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08- We're going to open the floor now for some questions.- Great.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Who's got a first question for Michelle, please?
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Gentleman right at the back there, yes.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17- I'd just like to ask, is there a charge for this?- No, no, it's free.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20We just want people to come in and share skills and learn new skills
0:31:20 > 0:31:24to create beautiful clothes for themselves and maybe their family,
0:31:24 > 0:31:27and prevent all this from going to waste.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30Another question for Michelle, please. Gentleman in the middle.
0:31:30 > 0:31:35Hi, Michelle. How many outfits could you upcycle in a month?
0:31:35 > 0:31:37It does depend on what you want to make.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39If you wanted to make a whole suit,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41then it would obviously take a little bit longer.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44- Something like this took about an hour.- Wow.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48But the little girl was involved. She made it, she designed it,
0:31:48 > 0:31:51and that gives it a lot of value.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53So, she wants to keep this forever
0:31:53 > 0:31:56and that's what we want to do - add value to waste.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00Are we happy to let Michelle off the hook now, do you think? Yeah?
0:32:00 > 0:32:03A round of applause for Michelle Williams, please.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07On average, we wear only 70% of the clothes in our wardrobes,
0:32:07 > 0:32:12which totals a massive 1.7 billion unused items in the UK alone.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15I hope it went well. Some really good questions, actually.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18I think people were interested in what I had to say.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22That's it. Our four People's Champions are now backstage
0:32:22 > 0:32:24and I think, if I'm honest, probably relieved
0:32:24 > 0:32:26they don't have to answer any more questions.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Now, I'm going to hand the power over to you shortly
0:32:29 > 0:32:33because it will be then down to you to pick your favourite and vote.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37Which project is going to benefit the Cheltenham community the most?
0:32:37 > 0:32:39Let's recap.
0:32:39 > 0:32:41Today, we've heard from Chris...
0:32:41 > 0:32:43CHEERING
0:32:45 > 0:32:47I haven't finished yet.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50..and his plans for an access-to-all all-year theatre.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Now, yes. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:32:55 > 0:32:59Brian and Harry's plans to get us all, whatever our abilities,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02to play powerchair sports.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:33:06 > 0:33:09Lizzie's home cooking evenings to celebrate the diverse
0:33:09 > 0:33:12and talented make-up of her community.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Michelle, who wants to cross the generation divide
0:33:20 > 0:33:22and tap into sewing and mending skills
0:33:22 > 0:33:25in upcycling unwanted clothes.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Yeah. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:33:30 > 0:33:33You know, I'm sure you'll agree, what an amazing group
0:33:33 > 0:33:36of community champions we've got, but who will win?
0:33:36 > 0:33:38Who's going to get the votes?
0:33:38 > 0:33:42Which project is going to get up off the ground? It's time to vote.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45CHEERING
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Everyone voting today has contributed towards a fund
0:33:51 > 0:33:55which totals £527.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58Voting has started. Again, difficult to call.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59What a variety today.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Food, sport, access to the community,
0:34:02 > 0:34:04redesigning clothes and then, in between, all of that,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07Brian, with all of the emotion.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10And he had us all going. Tough one today.
0:34:10 > 0:34:15Really, really good pitches. Really diverse types of ideas.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19I thought all the pitches were good so, yeah, it's tough competition.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Chris's project, excellent.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23I especially love the powerchair football.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26You could really understand what these players go through.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29I really, really like the powerchair football and the cookery.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Those two were my favourite.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33It's going to be really difficult to decide.
0:34:33 > 0:34:34There's some really worthy causes.
0:34:36 > 0:34:37Yes, thank you.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Well, that is it.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46It is time to reveal who has crossed the winning line
0:34:46 > 0:34:47at Cheltenham today.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51But first, please welcome back our People's Champions.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Chris, have a seat there.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59Michelle.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01Brian.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03Lizzie. Have a seat there.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08What a really tough call it is today.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12Four original projects, four fantastic ideas.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15But the votes have been counted and verified.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19The champion who you have voted for is...
0:35:24 > 0:35:26..Brian and powerchair sports.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Well done, well done!
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Congratulations, that's brilliant.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45- Bring it in, big man, bring it in. Well done.- Thank you.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53- How do you feel?- Great, fantastic!
0:35:53 > 0:35:56Anything you'd like to say to the community of Cheltenham?
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Yeah, thank you, thank you, thank you.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02That means, to me, that we can put on five brand-new sessions...
0:36:04 > 0:36:09..where, um, everybody, everybody's invited to come down,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11join in, have a go and enjoy yourself.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15- Thank you very much. - Well done, mate, well done.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18APPLAUSE
0:36:18 > 0:36:24I thought there were a lot of strong contenders,
0:36:24 > 0:36:25not just ourselves,
0:36:25 > 0:36:30but I think the other pitchers put themselves forward brilliantly,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33- so well done to them as well.- Yes.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35- MICHELLE:- I'm really pleased for Brian that won.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37I thought it was a brilliant project
0:36:37 > 0:36:39and the good outcome of this event
0:36:39 > 0:36:42is that we're all going to collaborate and work together.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46- CHRIS:- The doorman said to me, "I'm a commercial artist,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49"I wondered if I might come down and be a volunteer.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52"I could bring some art to your place and we could bring it alive
0:36:52 > 0:36:57"with new art installations," so, yeah, lots of bonuses to the trip.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00Two guys came up to me and said, "Have you got a card?"
0:37:00 > 0:37:03Being someone who runs a charity, of course I've got a card.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06I gave them my card and he said to me, "How much do the chairs cost?"
0:37:06 > 0:37:08I said, "They cost about £5,500."
0:37:08 > 0:37:11He said, "I'll give you a ring on Monday morning
0:37:11 > 0:37:13"and we'll talk about making sure you get a new chair."
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Get in! Brilliant!
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Michelle has got together with our youth worker
0:37:18 > 0:37:21and they're looking at a project together, so it's all good.
0:37:21 > 0:37:22It's all connections made.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Wow, that was great. What a brilliant line-up!
0:37:28 > 0:37:30I'm made up for Brian as well.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32That project is going to be brilliant
0:37:32 > 0:37:34and he nearly had me going again, welling up.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37And you know what was really interesting is that the audience
0:37:37 > 0:37:40were offering help of support to the other pitches as well
0:37:40 > 0:37:44so I genuinely believe that everybody's won today.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46Get in!
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Four weeks on and it's the morning
0:37:56 > 0:37:59of the first powerchair football open session.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02Brian is hoping for a big turnout.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05We're very lucky. We walked away with just over £500.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08The cross-section of people who are saying they're going to turn up
0:38:08 > 0:38:12are from the severely disabled to adults with learning difficulties
0:38:12 > 0:38:14to able-bodied groups to sports groups.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16They've all expressed an interest in what we've done.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19If half the people turn up who've shown interest, expressed interest,
0:38:19 > 0:38:21then, to us, it would be amazing.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26The players at the end all play in our local teams,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28whether it's Cheltenham Allstars...
0:38:28 > 0:38:31One of the first through the door is Lizzie George.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33I wanted to support Brian
0:38:33 > 0:38:36and I just wanted to see what it was all about.
0:38:36 > 0:38:37Come down on the chair. That's it.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40- This is solid, so you can stand on this and move yourself round.- OK.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44- Forwards, backwards, left and right. - OK.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47- Speed.- Oh, very slow for me. - We'll keep it slow to start with.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50When we're ready to go, all you need to do
0:38:50 > 0:38:52- is to slowly push it forward.- OK.
0:38:53 > 0:38:54Oh!
0:38:54 > 0:38:57I didn't feel really in control
0:38:57 > 0:38:59because the powerchair is so responsive.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01- Oh!- Not much difference.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04It feels really good and I'm itching to get back to it.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- Keep going there.- Oh!
0:39:08 > 0:39:10For the regular players and their families,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13they know all too well the importance of the sport.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16I think today's session has been really important for us
0:39:16 > 0:39:19because we can all take part and join in.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23Charlie is a twin with Poppy and Poppy's an able person
0:39:23 > 0:39:26and Charlie is disabled so, for them to come together
0:39:26 > 0:39:28and play together, I think is excellent.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32Before we came along, we didn't realise
0:39:32 > 0:39:35that there were these sports available for Charlie
0:39:35 > 0:39:37to be able to actually use and access.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40Because, like all five-year-olds, he wants to play football.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44So, to be able to be involved in this and play as a team
0:39:44 > 0:39:46and have that team spirit
0:39:46 > 0:39:49and feel he's involved in the community, has been really good.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Students from the local college came to try out the sport too.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01This is the first time I've been a powerchair.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I've never done anything like this before.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05I'm so excited.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08I can't wait. It's going to be so cool.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10OK, ladies, it's very simple.
0:40:10 > 0:40:15All I want you to do, very slowly press it forward.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17Ooh, slowly.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21It is really challenging, difficult to grasp to start off with.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28Some of the members of the public focus on chair skills,
0:40:28 > 0:40:31whilst others just get stuck into the game.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35John's been playing for three years,
0:40:35 > 0:40:37so what does he think of the incomers?
0:40:37 > 0:40:42I found it very entertaining to see how bad they were.
0:40:42 > 0:40:47Well, good or bad, everyone seems to be enjoying the session.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50I love coming here cos the atmosphere is really nice
0:40:50 > 0:40:51and when you're playing,
0:40:51 > 0:40:56you just don't feel like your condition exists any more.
0:40:56 > 0:41:01John's mum, Angela, thinks these open free sessions are vital.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Today, he's playing with girls his age who aren't disabled
0:41:04 > 0:41:07and they're realising that he's just the same as them
0:41:07 > 0:41:09and they're just getting together and playing football,
0:41:09 > 0:41:11which is what we need to happen.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Coach and player Harry has been working hard
0:41:15 > 0:41:18to explain to the newcomers what the sport is all about.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23From what I've seen today and what I've been part of,
0:41:23 > 0:41:26it seems to have been a roaring success.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30It's lovely to see so many smiling faces.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37And what about the runners-up? How are they faring?
0:41:37 > 0:41:42Chris Evans wanted funds to get electricity to his amphitheatre.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44A local electrician heard about it
0:41:44 > 0:41:47and has donated underground piping and cables,
0:41:47 > 0:41:51so he's halfway there to getting the lights turned on.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Michelle wanted funds to get professional sewing equipment
0:41:54 > 0:41:58to upcycle unwanted clothes and, while she didn't get the money,
0:41:58 > 0:42:00she's currently applying for a grant
0:42:00 > 0:42:03for all the equipment she needs and she's feeling hopeful.
0:42:03 > 0:42:08Plus Chris has offered her workshop space at the Butterfly Garden.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13And Lizzie wanted funds to get basic cooking equipment
0:42:13 > 0:42:16for her multicultural evenings.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18So many exciting things have happened.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21We've been able to source a tabletop oven.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23Somebody was in the audience supporting Michelle
0:42:23 > 0:42:27and he came up to me at the end and said that they could get
0:42:27 > 0:42:29a tabletop oven for us, so that was awesome.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33Hema's had her first Indian cooking event and that was brilliant
0:42:33 > 0:42:36because she taught us how to cook traditional Indian food.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38We have been so inspired by the programme
0:42:38 > 0:42:42that we're going to do Cheltenham West Let's Get A Good Thing Going.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46So, thanks to the amazing community spirit in Cheltenham,
0:42:46 > 0:42:50it seems that all four projects are going to happen.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Oh, and remember that promise of a brand-new powerchair
0:42:53 > 0:42:56from members of the audience to Brian? Well, guess what.
0:42:56 > 0:43:01The money has come through, all £5,500 of it.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03A brand-new chair is on its way.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06When people from the community support you,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09it just means you've got your peers and your friends
0:43:09 > 0:43:12and family also supporting you, it just means that you are doing
0:43:12 > 0:43:14something right and, yeah, extremely proud.