A CHARITY is hosting a Dragons' Den style competition with a twist.

Instead of handing out money to aspiring entrepreneurs, the BrightonSoup group dishes out cash to community projects.

At their events guests are given food and drink and are entertained before they vote for their favourite project.

Each project gets to pitch their cause to the dragons in the room, with the winner getting all the money from the door.

Will Anjos, the brains behind the plan, got the idea after watching a programme about a similar scheme set up in Detroit, US.

The 53-year-old, who works mostly from his Portslade home for a London company, asked his wife Karin and daughter Nicola for their thoughts and both of them pitched in to create BrightonSoup as a registered charity.

Mr Anjos said: "I was looking for something local to get involved in, something I could do with my family.

"Since 2008 there’s been a lot of doom and gloom about and I wanted to find something more positive, something to get excited about.

"I thought this would just be perfect in Brighton. My daughter Nicola said, 'let’s do it,' so we did."

They set up a website and made some leaflets before holding their first event in June, which was won by the Purple People Plot, part of the Portslade Friday Food Bank.

A folk singer called Georgia Lewis played at that event and shops in nearby Boundary Road donated decorations for the venue and raffle prizes.

Youth mayor from 2014, Alex Boyle, helped out in the kitchen and fellow charity Emmaus offered to make soup and host a future event.

Mr Anjos added: "I cannot tell you how many people stepped up and wanted to help - it was impressive.

"On the night there were about ten of us including my sons, sister, niece and friends doing everything.

"The feedback we got was so positive that we want to do more."

The next event takes place at St Richard's Community Centre in Egmont Road, Hove, on Friday, September 18, from 6pm.

For more details, visit brightonsoup.org.uk.