Tesco offers £500 grants to local groups in Inverness and the Highlands as part of £30 million package of support
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TESCO has announced its plan to provide a £30 million package of support to communities, with £500 grants available for local groups in Inverness and the wider Highlands.
In a letter to colleagues and customers last week, Tesco’s CEO Dave Lewis outlined the plans to provide £30 million of support for local communities including £25 million in food donations.
In a step to further help local communities, a £2 million 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 the firm's partner charity Groundwork’s website.
Tony McElroy, head of communications for Tesco in Scotland, said: “It’s important for us to reach people who need our help across local communities across Scotland.
"This funding will be directly provided to those food banks, charities and groups in Inverness 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.”
Graham Duxbury, CEO of Groundwork UK, said: “We know that small amounts of money provided quickly could make a real difference to local charities supporting vulnerable and isolated members of the community and this is why we’re pleased to have changed the Bags of Help programme to provide rapid support where it’s needed most.
“Bags of Help will now provide £500 grants that will support groups to buy much needed supplies, shift to remote working or simply compensate for the loss of fundraising income.
"Whatever is needed to help them make a difference in their organisations – and their communities – at this difficult time.”
One charity which is already benefitting from Bags of Help funding is cancer charity Maggie’s.
Maggie’s have centres across the UK 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.
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