The UK’s largest retailer has announced its plan to provide a £30million package of support to local communities with a £500 grant available for local groups in Taunton.
In a letter to colleagues and customers last week, Tesco’s CEO Dave Lewis outlined the plans for local communities including £25million in food donations.
In a step to further help local communities, a £2million Bags of Help COVID-19 Community Fund has been created which aims to support as many groups as possible across the country with grants of £500.
This includes, but is not limited to, women’s refuges, foodbanks, hospices, homeless charities, social isolation groups, schools, charities supporting the elderly and local authorities.
The application and payment process is simple to provide support quickly to these important causes.
Any groups that would benefit from this funding are encouraged to apply here. The process is managed through our partner charity Groundwork’s website.
Mathew Fish, store director for Tesco in Somerset, has told Tone News:
“It’s important for us to reach people who need our help across our local community. This funding will be directly provided to those food banks, charities and groups who need it more than ever. We’re also supporting the Government’s programme to feed the most vulnerable, through our online grocery service and donating £3million worth of meals a month.
“We’re doing everything we can to provide food for all at this difficult time and hopefully the £500 Bags of Help grant will help those groups still committed to helping others during this uncertain time.”
One charity which is already benefiting from Bags of Help funding is cancer charity Maggie’s. Maggie’s have centres across the UK, including the opening of a centre very soon in Taunton, providing support to those with cancer and their families.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bags of Help funding that Maggie’s received has allowed them to change their support from face to face in centres to telephone, email and online as people with cancer need Maggie’s more than ever.
