Tesco : How Tesco helps community groups to bloom

18 Jun 2018

Tesco is celebrating its Bags of Help funding scheme at a parliamentary reception in Westminster today (18 June) with its partner, environmental charity Groundwork, colleagues and local community groups.

The event comes as Tesco's Bags of Help funding scheme has provided more than £52 million to over 16,000 local community projects since its launch in 2015, with all groups selected by customers voting in store.

Through Bags of Help, money raised by the sale of carrier bags is used to fund local projects with grants ranging from £1,000 and £4,000 in communities across Britain, just like Oulton First School in Staffordshire where children are now learning more about nature and exploring the great outdoors at a new sensory garden.

After being voted for by local customers, Oulton First School was awarded a grant through Bags of Help, which has allowed them to transform unused outdoor space into a multi-sensory area for children and members of the school community to enjoy.

Teachers, children and parents worked together to design and create the garden, making use of recycled materials donated by the community, with funding going towards fencing, seating, plants, containers, and a pergola.

Vicky Potts, teacher at Oulton First School who helps to run an after-school gardening school, said:

'The children love spending time in the garden and it's wonderful to watch them learning more about nature and wildlife at the same time.

'Our gardening club has also proved to be a massive success. The children are already starting to gain new skills and are enjoying discovering a new world outside of the classroom.'

Shaun Rathbone, Store Manager at nearby Meir Superstore, added:

'It's wonderful to see this project come to life, showing first-hand how a Bags of Help grant can have a positive impact on local communities.

'There has been great enthusiasm for the initiative from both Tesco colleagues and our customers. We're hugely excited for the future as the scheme continues to grow and help even more groups across Britain.'

Notes to editors

Through initiatives like Bags of Help, Tesco is helping communities across Britain by working with suppliers, charitable organisations and local community groups just like Oulton First School.

Tesco commissioned independent research to understand the role it plays in supporting communities across the UK. The KPMG Value in Your Town report can be accessed here: www.tescoplc.com/valueinyourtown

The Value in Your Town online tool, which shows Tesco's contribution in local areas, can also be accessed here: www.tescoplc.com/valueinyourtown

More information about Bags of Help, and how to nominate groups for funding, can be found here: www.tesco.com/carrier-bags/