LOCAL groups and charities are looking for bags of help from Tesco shoppers to make them the recipients of thousands of pounds thanks to the superstore’s community grant initiative.
The Tesco Bags of Help scheme is run in partnership with the environmental charity Groundwork and sees grants awarded to local community projects every three months.
Since its launch in 2015 it has provided over 25,000 local community projects up and down the country with more than £75 million.
Now, the latest round offers special Bags of Help Centenary Grants that will see shoppers choose between three groups and organisations to receive £25,000, £15,000 and £10,000 (usually £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000).
Customers can cast their vote using a token given to them at check-out each time they shop in store.
In July-August the vote will support Tesco’s work on health, prioritising projects which deliver health and wellbeing benefits, with a special focus on cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
The November-December voting round will be open to all community groups supporting projects across the regions, enabling groups to apply for bigger funding.
At Tesco Greenfield, the nominees for July-August are Cardiac Risk In The Young (CRY), Maggie’s Oldham and StreetGames UK.
CRY offers cardiac screening of young people aged 14-35 in Greater Manchester to diagnose potentially life-threatening conditions and helps them get treatment they need.
The charity’s myheart network provides personalised help, support, and information to individuals who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening inherited or congenital cardiac condition.
Maggie’s offers free practical, emotional and social support to people living with cancer and their families and friends.
Their centres across the UK, including one in the ground of the Royal Oldham Hospital, are warm and welcoming places, with qualified professionals offering a programme of support.
StreetGames UK is a charity which harnesses the power of sport to create positive change in the lives of disadvantaged young people right across the UK.
Their Fit and Fed campaign is in Tesco stores now and aims to give children a free meal and lead a free activity session.
Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Bags of Help contributes funds to community projects up and down the country and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers voting in their local stores.”
Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said: “Bags of Help continues to enable local communities to improve the local spaces and places that matter to them.
“The diversity of projects being funded shows that local communities have a passion to create something great in their area.
“We are pleased to be able to be a part of the journey and provide support and encouragement to help local communities thrive.”
The Tesco Bags of Help scheme is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Nominate a project or find out more online: www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp
