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Tesco Bags of Help donates millions to school projects
SCHOOLS and education projects have been awarded £7.4MILLION through Tesco’s Bags of Help initiative
The supermarket’s funding scheme – which is run in conjunction with charity Groundwork – awards grants raised from the 5p bag levy to community projects up and down the UK.
They have already delivered more than £27million to groups across the country - with almost 1000 schools benefitting from the initiative.
Lindsey Crompton, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Since Bags of Help began in 2015, thousands of groups have benefited from grants raised by the 5p bag levy.
“The wonderful thing about the initiative is that these are projects nominated by and voted for by people in the local community, so it is a real pleasure to know that we are reaching so many.
“Bags of Help has allowed us to connect directly with the customers and communities which we serve. But this is just the beginning for the initiative and we are hugely excited for the future as the scheme continues to grow and help even more groups across the UK.”
Among the groups to have benefitted is Astley Park School in Chorley, Lancashire which was awarded £12,000 to create a dedicated play area for running, biking and scootering.
Gillian Broughton of Astley Park School said: “What a transformation this has made, not only to the school grounds, but to the everyday lives of the pupils and staff at the school. Pupils cannot only ride safely but are having lots of fun, promoting independence, a sense of achievement and, of course, promoting physical activity.”
Funding has also been put to a variety of uses up and down the country such as, with Milltimber Playgroup in Aberdeen who utilised their £12,000 grant to improve two play facilities locally, Fleet Wood Lane Primary School in Spalding, Lincolnshire adding a trim trail – which improves fitness and co-ordination – and renewing playground markings with its £12,000 grant, and Little Oaks Pre-School in Frimley, Surrey also adding a trim trail and nature garden with its £12,000.
Groundwork’s national Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said: “We know that community projects have the power to transform the lives of young people so it is great to hear that so many schools and education applicants are benefitting from Bags of Help.
“We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding, ranging from outdoor classrooms, sports facilities, gardens, play areas and everything in between. Bags of Help is reaching out to community groups the length and breadth of the UK.”
Previously the awards programme has run every nine months – with grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000.
But as of December last year it will reach thousands more, with Tesco customers having a say on which three groups will get grants of up to £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000 every time they shop. It is expected hundreds more schools will benefit over the next few months.
Customers are able to vote for a Bags of Help project in store using a blue token given to them at the check-out. At the end of voting period, votes are collected and three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.
The Bags of Help scheme is permanently open for applications and anyone can nominate a project at any time – whether it’s Tesco customers, colleagues or the community groups themselves. Just ask in store for more information or visit the Bags of Help website, visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp/
