Tesco Bags of Help reaches 10,000 local projects milestone

Tesco has today announced that 10,000 community projects have now been funded through its Bags of Help scheme.

Run in partnership with environmental charity Groundwork, Bags of Help uses the money raised from carrier bag sales to fund local projects. No profit is made on the sale of these bags and Tesco has now donated over £43 million to fund great causes across England, Scotland and Wales through the programme, which began in 2015.

Through Bags of Help, Tesco customers vote in-store for their preferred local project, using the blue token given to them at the checkout. Every two months Tesco hands out grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000, in each of its 565 regions.

Examples of projects supported include:

• A new ‘book bus’ for Robert Kett primary school in Norfolk. Bags of Help funding paid for a double decker bus, now parked in the school’s playground, which has been transformed into a library for the pupils to enjoy.

• Helping vulnerable and isolated people to get cycling in Glasgow. Tesco grants helped pay for a ‘peddling pool’ – a dedicated area where small children can learn to ride a bike with their parents and carers.

• Restoring a community allotment in Holyhead after three floods in three years made it difficult to access the site. Bags of Help funded a new all-weather road leading to the site, new paths around the plots and a dedicated car park to help the children, elderly and disabled users who regularly enjoy the site.