Further Funding Success with Tesco Bags of Help

If you're struggling to keep up with all our fundraising success stories, we don't blame you! In addition to our grants from Kent County Council, Asda, Swale Borough Council and The Co-Op, today we received the news that our application with Tesco and their Bags of Help scheme was successful.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant. Minster Cricket Club is one of the groups on the shortlist.

Voting is open in stores throughout May and June. Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop. Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already delivered over £28.5 million to more than 4,000 projects up and down the UK. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.

Lindsey Crompton, Head of Community at Tesco, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for May and June. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities.”

Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said:

“We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding, ranging from outdoor classrooms, sports facilities, community gardens, play areas and everything in between.

“We’re looking forward to learning the results of the customer vote and then supporting each group to bring their project to life.”

During the months of May and June, Minster Cricket Club will be one of these community organisations in the Sheerness store and three Tesco Express stores in Sittingbourne. Any monies we raise from this project is going towards the development of our Nursery Ground changing facilities. We hope to turn the existing old porter cabin into something that everyone will enjoy using much more!

If you are shopping in Tesco during this time, please make sure you collect a blue token from the till each time you shop, and place it in our box to help our cause!

Thanks very much,

Minster Cricket Club.