West Wight Sports and Community Centre is bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme to help fund a new gardening project for kids in the Centre’s grounds.
Stronger Starts provides grant awards of up to £1,500 to local community projects, with a particular focus on children and young people.
On the shortlist
Three groups in every community have been shortlisted to receive grant awards and Tesco customers can vote for the group they think should take away the top award in their local Tesco store.
West Wight Sports and Community Centre is one of the groups on the shortlist in Freshwater!
The project will be a gardening project for children and will use the sports centre grounds to provide children with hands-on gardening experiences to promote healthy eating habits through the cultivation of fruits and vegetables
Griffin: Such an important skill for them to learn
Clare Griffin, Centre Manager said,
“We are very excited to be starting this project on 24th April and very much hope the community will get behind us so that we can receive much needed funds to provide the activity year round.
“Teaching children about gardening and how to produce their own food is such an important skill for them to learn and will set them up with how to eat healthily and at a low cost. It will also demonstrate how little space is required to grow fruit and vegetables.”
Public vote
Voting is open in Freshwater Tesco until the end of June. Customers cast their vote using a blue token given to them at the check-out each time they shop.
Tesco’s Stronger Starts – previously known as Tesco Community Grants – has already provided over £110 million to more than 60,000 projects across Britain.
£5m Stronger Starts grant programme
This £5m Stronger Starts grant programme, delivered in partnership with Groundwork UK, helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, and sports equipment for after school clubs.
de Silva: Children with enough food achieve more
Claire de Silva, Tesco UK Head of Communities and Local Media, said,
“Helping schools and children’s groups access the food and resources they need is vitally important in getting children a stronger start in life.
“Children with enough food have more energy, better concentration, and ultimately achieve more too.”
Duxbury: Family and school budgets are tight
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said,
“As a community charity, we have seen first-hand how schools and other groups supporting young people have been playing a much bigger role in ensuring children are getting a healthy start to the day and getting access to spaces and services to support physical activity and mental health.
“Family budgets are tight and school budgets are tight, but it’s so important that children stay fed, fit and focused, so we’re delighted to be able to prioritise these activities alongside Tesco with the Stronger Starts programme.”
Funding for all
Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities, particularly those helping to provide food and giving children the support they need for a good start in life.
Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit the website.
First course next week
The first course at West Wight will start on 24th April 2024.
For details ring the Centre on 01983 752168 or email [email protected]
News shared by Emily on behalf of West Wight Sports and Community Centre. Ed
