Chestnut Grove Academy is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local community projects.
Chestnut Grove Academy is one of three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

In April the school moves into its new buildings and the old 1970’s school will be demolished.  This is the end of an 18 month period of development work at the school, during which ‘business has carried on as normal’.  Having had limited outdoor space for such a long time, Chestnut Grove wants to provide the best possible recreational space for students in what will be their new grounds, and these recycled benches will not only fit in with the environmental theme, but also provide space for relaxation, learning and socialising for the whole community.
‘It is important to us that we capitalise on this opportunity to upgrade the external facilities for the health and wellbeing of our students in school time and the community at other times.  With budgets tight, this funding for new outdoor furniture will supplement the hard efforts of the Friends of Chestnut Grove and school staff to ensure that we state of the art facilities that can be enjoyed by all’ Christian Kingsley, Headteacher.

Voting is open in stores throughout March and April. 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 delivered over £27 million to more than 3,500 projects up and down the UK. 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.
Lindsey Crompton, Head of Community at Tesco, said:
 “We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for March and April. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities.”
Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said:
 “We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding, ranging from outdoor classrooms, sports facilities, community gardens, play areas and everything in between. “We’re looking forward to learning the results of the customer vote and then supporting each group to bring their project to life.”

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 www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp
Article supplied by Sharon Noble