Starbucks has announced that five Brighton community groups have been shortlisted by a panel of independent local judges in its "Realising Potential" pilot community programme. The projects will all receive a share of the £20,000 grant and receive an allocation of volunteer time but will now face a public vote that will decide which projects should be prioritised.
 
To vote for a group go into any Brighton Starbucks and fill in one of the "Realising Potential" postcards stocked in each branch.

Starbucks is calling on all Brighton residents to register their views by voting for one of the following shortlisted projects:
 
Youth Category
 
Friends of Downs View School was established by volunteers to help raise money for extra equipment and facilities for Downs View School which educates children aged 4-16 with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties. They aim to create an outside play area for younger children from the school and from the community to work together: learning, playing and growing their own flowers and vegetables.
 
Brighton Pebbles is a parent led group bringing together families with disabled children aged 4-14.  The funding and volunteer support would help to create a garden, incorporating multi-sensory play elements that promote stimulation and relaxation for children with profound sensory difficulties. The garden would also have a traditional vegetable garden and a BBQ area for cooking and sharing food. Families will have an opportunity to work together and to share and gain horticultural skills.
 
Rockinghorse was established in 1968 and works with local children’s hospitals and specialised medical facilities for babies, children and teenagers. This award of volunteer time and funding would contribute to a project to equip recreation rooms for adolescent patients at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. This will provide specifically designed spaces that cater to the needs of teenagers and will help to relieve the feelings of boredom, isolation and frustration often felt by older children in hospital.
 
Clean and Green Category
 
Magpie Environmental Trust has, since 1997, been promoting education around sustainability. They aim to transform a neglected allotment into a space for learning about food growing. The Community Learning Allotment would benefit any local resident with an interest in food growing but a lack of space and opportunity. In particular those on low incomes, with mental health needs and also those not in employment, education or training could benefit from the chance to get involved.
 
The Carers Centre is a charity working to support carers of all backgrounds and ages. It has an allotment in Brighton which has been transformed into a garden for carers giving them the opportunity to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers using organic principles. The centre wants to organise monthly horticultural events and open days in which carers could participate: helping more carers (many of whom don’t have access to outside space) to access the facility.
 
All those resident in and around Brighton are eligible to vote and this can be done in any Brighton Starbucks using one of the special Realising Potential voting postcards which should then be put into the sealed ballot box in-store.  Voting ends at closing time on Sunday August 8. On Monday August 9 the results will be publically counted and revealed at Starbucks in Market Street at 2pm. All funding awards will be announced to the winners and runners up at the event.
 
Rachel Christy, District Manager for Starbucks Coffee Company, said: 
“Asking the community how we can best serve them through the ‘Starbucks Realising Potential’ programme has been a great experience.  We were impressed with the applications that came in and the short-listing panel had to make some really tough choices.  We’re now urging all Brighton residents to get involved - we want to know what’s important to you. Make sure you cast your vote in any Brighton Starbucks by closing time on Sunday 8th of August.”
 
The application period closed on June 11 and the independent judging panel comprised Heather Thomas, Development Director Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival; Andrea Fox, Co-Presenter of the breakfast show on Brighton’s Juice Radio; James Ledwood, Editor of Gscene, Rachel Christy, District Manager Starbucks, chaired by Claire Levens, Head of Advocacy and Responsibility at Starbucks in the UK.
 
To attend the vote count at Starbucks Market Street at 2pm RSVP to brightonstarbucks@edelman.com.