Bags of Help is Tesco’s local community grant scheme. Money raised from carrier bags charge is being used to fund thousands of local projects across the UK. The grants are managed by the community charity Groundwork UK.
We have been fortunate to be the recipients of these grants which have helped to fund our following projects:
Men Who Care – We recognised that there were a growing number of male carers at home living in isolation due to their caring role. In order to support these carers we have provided a male focused social group, which provides friendship, specialist support and social activities out in the community on a monthly basis, whilst providing care/respite for the person they care for.
Green Spaces – The project aims to reduce isolation of the person with care needs, by taking them out into the community to access green spaces, parks, gardens and attend local events within the local community.
Emergency Respite – Periods of crisis are common. Family breakdown, hospitalisation, emotional and psychological deterioration and/or a decline in the health and wellbeing of the carer or the person the care for. Specialist support is required during periods of crisis, often to keep the family together. We liaise with appropriate services and/or family and give carers the “peace of mind” that their cared for is being looked after.
We were invited to an Reception event in Westminster by Tesco’s and Groundwork UK to celebrate the Tesco Bags for Help scheme which has seen £52 million donated to over 16,000 community groups across the country to support local projects, funded from the sale of plastic bags in Tesco stores since 2015. The event brought together all their key stakeholders, including MP’s and Peers, local community groups, charity-partners, and their project staff and volunteers.
