Do you shop at Tesco?

CCS Adoption is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grant initiative. Help support our bid to win some cash by voting with tokens.

To celebrate Tesco’s Centenary, the supermarket has teamed up with Groundwork to deliver a special voting round of its community funding scheme which will see grants of £25,000, £15,000 and £10,000 awarded to community projects.

Three groups in the southwest Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

CCS Adoption is one of the groups on the shortlist.

The funds raised will provide 15 ‘Adoption Well Being Days’ in 2020 for adopted children and their families from the region, at a respite play centre in Bristol.

A CCS Adoption spokesperson said:

“We are seeking this grant to deliver specialist support in the early days of placement (when a child moves in with their adoptive family), which is particularly challenging for children. ‘Well, Being Days’ provides a unique opportunity for children and families to meet others with shared experiences of trauma; to play and explore their identities. It’s a safe place for families to visit, laugh, cry, have fun, chat without explanation, explore ideas and relax without feeling judged. On average 269 families attended during 2018 and we see the families bonding and building lifelong friendships.”

Feedback from an adopter at CCS Adoption’s weekly Tots Group:

“It’s a place of refuge where you and your child can relax and feel safe, supported and never judged. Thank you!”

Voting is open in all Tesco stores from October to December 2019 and 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 provided over £75 million to more than 25,000 projects across Britain. 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.

Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said:

“Bags of Help contributes funds to community projects up and down the country and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers voting in their local stores. We’re looking forward to seeing more projects brought to life.”

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

“Bags of Help continues to enable local communities up and down Britain to improve the local spaces and places that matter to them. The diversity of projects that are being funded shows that local communities have a passion to create something great in their area. We are pleased to be able to be a part of the journey and provide support and encouragement to help local communities thrive.”

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 Tesco Bags of Help.