Local charity Weston Hospicecare is bidding to bag a massive cash boost of up to £4,000 from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.
Weston Hospicecare has previously been supported by the Tesco store in Weston-super-Mare, which has donated goods for various fundraisers and recently hosted their own Care for a Cuppa tea party event in aid of the hospice.
‘On 21st April, we invited members of staff and residents from the flats above the shop to a tea party, as we know they do not have a social space to meet,’ said Judith Cullen, Community Champion at Tesco. ‘While we regularly invite the residents in, this time we decided it would be great to support the hospice’s Care for a Cuppa event and raise vital funds for the hospice.’
The hospice’s relationship with Tesco prompted the fundraising team to put the hospice forward for the Bags of Help community initiative in hopes of securing funding for its Live Life Creatively project.
‘Within our Day Hospice, we are developing a programme called ‘Live Life Creatively’, which includes horticulture activities that enable patients (including those with very limited mobility) to spend time in the garden, tending plants and growing their own food or flowers as they choose,’ said Stacy Gaynor, Day Hospice manager and occupational therapist. ‘To do this, we need to purchase specially adapted equipment, including raised beds and specialist tools, to create an accessible, interesting, productive and pleasant space that will help improve our patients’ wellbeing, quality of life, confidence and independence.’
The community funding scheme, which sees grants of up to £4,000 and £2,000 for 1st and 2nd place and a guaranteed £1,000 for 3rd place – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local community projects, came about from a partnership between Tesco and Groundwork.
Weston Hospicecare is one of three groups in the region that has been shortlisted to receive the cash award, and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores in Weston-super-Mare, Worle and Cheddar throughout May and June to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.
‘We’re so pleased to have been shortlisted for the Tesco Bags of Help initiative funding, and we hope Tesco shoppers will vote for us so we can fund this project, which our patients would very much enjoy,’ said Rachel Mansfield, community fundraiser at Weston Hospicecare. ‘Whether through active or passive participation, gardening will improve our patients’ wellbeing. With adapted equipment and facilities, each individual will be able to undertake tasks within their capability and energy levels.’
Please note: A version of this article ran in the Weston Mercury on 12 May. To read it, please click here.
MORE FROM TESCO ABOUT THE BAGS OF HELP SCHEME
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.”
Funding is 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