St Vincent’s Hospice 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 £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local community projects. Greenspace Scotland is working with Groundwork to provide support to communities in Scotland.
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.
St Vincent’s Hospice is one of the groups on the shortlist.
Katrina Vine, Trusts Manager said: “We would like to give patients in our care an interesting and engaging view out of their bedroom windows. The garden area immediately outside the Inpatient Unit is unsightly and overgrown with Mare’s Tail, an invasive weed.
This project will revamp the garden area outside the bedrooms, and provide a private, sheltered area where patients can be taken, to relax outside with family.
The project will involve removing approx 45 tons of Mare’s Tail infected topsoil, and replacing it with new topsoil, replacing broken slabs, and creating seating areas.”
Kate Lennon, Chief Executive said: “St Vincent’s Hospice provides specialised care and support services to all those within the community affected by life-limiting illness. We aim for the very highest standards of patient care, while ensuring choice, dignity, compassion and enjoyment of life.
“The creation of a garden project will, without doubt, strengthen these core values. The project will vastly improve the holistic care package delivered by the hospice, in turn, enhancing our services and making things better for patients and their families.”
Voting is open in stores throughout May and June. 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 £28.5 million to more than 4,000 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.
Tony McElroy, Tesco’s Head of Communications in Scotland, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for May and June. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities.”
Emma Halliday, Community Enabler Coordinator at Greenspace Scotland, 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. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp