THERE were celebrations at Crediton’s Tesco store at Wellparks on Friday, February 2, to mark the supermarkets milestone of supporting more than 10,000 local community groups with more than £43 million of funding through Tesco’s Bags of Help community programme since it was launched in 2015.

In Devon this includes £1,184,864 of funding given directly to more than 322 local community groups or projects.

The Crediton store has supported 18 projects including Crediton Festival, Sandford Playgroup, Haldon Tug of War team, The Amber Foundation, Tedburn St Mary Recreation Ground, Friends of Newton Arboretum, Pete’s Dragons, Age Concern Crediton, Thorverton Primary School PTA, Tedburn St Mary Scout Group, Sandford Scouts and Cheriton Fitzpaine Community Shop.

Bags of Help is one of the many ways that Tesco plays its part in the communities it serves.

By inviting customers to vote for the funding groups receive, Tesco put the power back with local people who know their area best, to decide where they would like the money to be spent.

The scheme is funded by the sales of carrier bags in Tesco stores.

In Devon, one of the fantastic projects funded was the North Devon Hospice which received £12,000 to pay for the repair and resurfacing work to its garden pathway for families and patients to enjoy the beautiful and tranquil hospice garden. In Plymouth,

Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop using the blue token given to them at checkouts.

Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding of £1,000 - £4,000.

Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “It’s amazing to think Bags of Help has played a part in helping groups bring 10,000 community projects to life.

"The projects are making a big difference and the dedication of the groups we’ve supported is really inspirational. We’re looking forward to giving a Bags of Help boost to even more projects in the future.”

Tesco works with environmental charity Groundwork to run Bags of Help.

Groundwork’s national CEO, Graham Duxbury, said: “We are delighted that Bags of Help has reached the impressive milestone of funding 10,000 projects that have helped communities up and down Great Britain.

“Since the initiative started we have seen some amazing projects come to fruition and it’s great to know the impressive scale that the programme has on reaching communities that need extra funds to make where they live a better place to be.

“It’s exciting to know that this positive impact can continue and we look forward to seeing even more local communities apply for grants and creating innovative projects that help local people and places.” 

Grants are available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit: www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp .

For more information, contact Richard Younger-Ross on 07785 931044.

Alan Quick