£1,000 grants up for grabs for community groups across Wales

Children and young people across the UK will be supported with £1000 grants from Tesco as part of a new scheme launched this week.

Thousands of groups and charities across Wales who support younger people will be able to apply for funding provided by the Bags of Help scheme throughout October, November and December.

Potential organisations who can apply include those supporting mental health, outdoor activities, educational activities, young carers, bereavement counselling, child poverty and vulnerable at risk children.

Since COVID19, the Bags of Help COVID19 Communities Fund has given £4m of support to more than 8,000 charities and groups across the regions affected by the pandemic, each receiving £500 grants for food, resources, and emergency aid.

Rhodri Evans, Local Communications Manager for Wales, said: “Young people have been among those most impacted by the pandemic, with schools closing across the country and many missing out on all important services impacted by lockdown.

“We’re encouraging any group who is working to support children and young people across the UK to apply for the new funding. We hope it can make a real difference to lives of so many around the country.”

The Bags of Help programme, which is run in partnership with community charity Groundwork, has already provided £83m of funding to more than 34,000 community projects across the UK.

One group in Wales which has already benefitted from a Bags of Help grant is Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs, which supports Out of School Childcare Clubs across Wales.

The organisation received grants to help it deliver 70 workshops through 6 projects in Out of School Childcare Clubs across Wales aimed at encouraging children to play outdoors and connect with nature.

Jane O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer for Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs, said at the time that the funding would help combat issues of childhood obesity, giving children the opportunity to play freely and get active away from distractions such as social media.

“We’re truly grateful to Tesco for its support and funding through the Bags of Help scheme,” she said. “We aim to promote health, wellbeing and environmental awareness through fun, outdoor activities, so every donation has a huge impact on children’s lives.

“Out of School Childcare Clubs provide valuable play and learning opportunities outside of the school day, enabling parents to work and train, which in turn drives economic growth, tackles poverty and reduces inequalities.”

Tesco hopes to support over 2,000 projects across the country in October, November and December, with three grants of £1,000 each available in each voting region.