THE new bi-monthly Pembroke Soup initiative is gathering momentum, with twice as many people turning up at the town hall in January as did for the launch in December.

Pembroke Soup is a micro-grant aiding initiative, the brainchild of local resident Joan Marsh, which aims to increase awareness and support for local charitable ventures.

Funds raised from the sale of soup go to the organisation judged the most worthy.

First of four would-be Soup-ers, Sarah Nutting described the work of the St John Ambulance Brigade. Visit Monkton Hall on Thursdays at 7pm or contact Victoria Stevens on 07811 952937l.

Keith Wheeler, chair of the Pembroke and District Gardening Club was keen to stress that his group was not so much “pitching for funds” as hoping to attract new members to meetings, held on the third Thursday afternoon of the month, at 2pm, at Foundry House.

Irena Krusona, outlined the history of the Holyland Wood project, one kilometre circular route established through fundraising from Foundry House-based 21C.

Anyone interested in helping out, should contact Foundry House on 01646 680090.

Bea Sutton described the work of Fairtrade which provides a market for traders in poorer countries. Bea announced that, after 12 years of running the Pembroke stall, she would like to “pass on the baton”. For further information contact Bea on 01646 681342.

St John Ambulance and the Holyland Woods Project shared the £106 from the sale of soup because of a tied vote.

Expressing her thanks, Sarah Nutting said: “I think that PS is an absolutely tremendous idea; it’s very simple but it gets organisations together in such a way that they get to know what they are doing on a day-to-day basis.”

The next Pembroke Soup event is scheduled for March 19 between noon and 1.30pm, followed by a guided walk around Holyland Woods.

Would-be ‘soup-ers’ please contact Joan Marsh on 0791 720 5512 or email: pembrokesoup@yahoo.co.uk.