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The Onion Collective, a community enterprise with plans to build an amazing harbourside community gallery, studio, workshop and café hub in Watchet, Somerset has won the first prize of £1000 in the Power to Change film competition.

Power to Change is a £150m Big Lottery funded initiative, backed by Trinity Mirror and the National Lottery, that will support community-led enterprise across England. Ahead of the launch of the Power to Change Trust in early 2015, Locality, the Plunkett Foundation and UnLtd have been contracted by Big Lottery Fund to offer advice, ideas and support to community enterprises.

Locality and partners opened the film competition looking for exciting and inspirational short films from community enterprises with big plans for their neighbourhoods. The competition has had entries from all over the country, including films about circuses, skateparks, roof gardens and soup kitchens.

Judges from the Big Lottery Fund, the Daily Mirror, Locality, the Plunkett Foundation and UnLtd chose the Onion Collective’s film about their idea for a creative community development as the winner because of the film’s engaging and creative style, and because of the scheme’s potential to bring jobs, tourists and investment to the rural town of Watchet.

Rachel Kelly, Director, Onion Collective said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Power to Change film competition; it was in itself something of a community project – with everyone getting involved and sharing skills through to performing in front of camera! So to everyone in Watchet who helped us make this film we say a huge thank you! Our project represents the belief that community-led regeneration can empower a whole town, and we are extremely proud to be a part of it. Thank you, Locality, for the inspiring challenge.”

Georgie Grant, Director, Onion Collective, said yesterday (Thursday 20 November) : “We are looking forward to screening our film today (Thursday 20 November) at our community consultation in Watchet, where we will be presenting our East Quay architectural concept drawings, with our architect Piers Taylor. It will be a huge boost to tell everyone we won the film competition!"

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Locality, said: “We loved the Onion Collective’s film – funny, entertaining and with a strong, clear message about their project. This highly ambitious scheme could really transform their town and if it’s anything like as good as the film, we can’t wait to see it come to life.”

Runners-up Beatfreeks in Birmingham and Saffron Lane Neighbourhood Council in Leicester will also receive £500 each.

Beetfreak’s film was about their idea to turn a disused building in central Birmingham into a space for enterprises and charities, and Saffron Lane’s entry featured their enterprising jam-making business.

Anisa Haghdadi from Beetfreaks said: “It is fantastic to hear we are a runner up! We loved making the film and more importantly, are passionate about and committed to building a space for young people in the city to learn, create and build. This has given us more ammunition to drive this forwards.”

Neil Hodgkin from Saffron Lane said: “As a small, local charity it is great for us to get recognition on a national level. This prize has brought such a sense of pride and achievement to our volunteers and team and we will be still telling people about it months later!”

Locality, Plunkett Foundation and UnLtd are offering a range of support to community enterprises includes the Power to Change Community Network with enterprise tips, news and useful updates topics including funding.

Visit http://locality.org.uk/projects/power-change/ and follow @localitynews and #powertochange for more information.

Backed by Trinity Mirror, publisher of the Daily Mirror, the Big Lottery Fund’s Power to Change initiative will use £150 million of funds raised by National Lottery players to support community enterprises across England. The Power to Change Trust is currently applying for the endowment of £150M from the Big Lottery Fund and this process is expected to be completed by the end of the year. It is envisaged that the Trust will be up and running early in 2015.

Further information about Power to Change can be found atwww.biglotteryfund.org.uk/powertochange and by following @BiglfCommunity #PowerToChange

About Locality
Locality is the leading nationwide network of community enterprises, development trusts, settlements and social action centres.
We provide advice, support and grants for the Community Rights, Neighbourhood Planning and Our Place programmes, and train Community Organisers across England. Locality is also campaigning to improve public service delivery, making them #localbydefault. To find out more visit locality.org.uk

About the Plunkett Foundation
The Plunkett Foundation is an award winning organisation founded in 1919 that helps predominantly rural communities to set up community-led enterprises as a response to the issues facing them. Plunkett’s specialisms include community engagement, community-led assets and services, community enterprise approaches and rural development.

Best known for helping communities to save their local shops and pubs, Plunkett has been involved in the development of a wide range of community-led enterprises including community food enterprises and community enterprises in faith buildings. Our support ranges from start-up support through all stages of developing to providing membership schemes to enable existing community enterprises to access discounted services and suppliers. Plunkett runs a number of peer-to-peer networks including the Community Shops Network (www.communityshops.coop), Co-operative Pubs Network (www.pubs.coop) and the Woodland Social Enterprise Network (http://www.plunkett.co.uk/whatwedo/WoodlandSocEntNetwork.cfm). 

Find out more about Plunkett on Plunkett’s website
Follow us: @PlunkettFoundat and https://www.facebook.com/plunkettfoundation

About UnLtd 
UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and offers the largest such network in the world. It resources more than 1,000 individuals each year through its core Awards programme.

UnLtd puts people at the heart of what it does and reaches out to find passionate, talented, resourceful people who are determined to tackle the key issues facing society. Its focus is on helping greater numbers of people to start up as social entrepreneurs, enabling those who want - and can - to scale up their impact.

UnLtd aims to develop collaboration and networks that will create an ecosystem of support, through delivering support to social entrepreneurs in partnership with social investors and delivery partners. It operates a unique model by investing directly in individuals and offering a complete package of resources; from awards of funding between £500 and £250,000 to ongoing advice, networking and practical support.
UnLtd is the trading name for The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs.
www.unltd.org.uk

Follow us: @UnLtd and facebook.com/UnLtd

About Big Lottery Fund
The Big Lottery Fund has contracted Locality, UnLtd and the Plunkett Foundation to inspire and support community-led enterprises ahead of the launch of the Power to Change Trust next year. This support will provide community enterprises with expertise and guidance to develop their plans but is not a guarantee of future funding from Power to Change.
The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery.

The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.

In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was awarded to projects. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £32 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded.