Supermarket giant makes additional funding available to help communities affected by coronavirus
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Tesco has set aside an extra £2 million for its Covid-19 Community Fund, forming part of its £52m package of support to help communities, with £500 grants available for groups.
This means a total of £4 million of additional funding has been made available to community organisations through the supermarket's Bags of Help scheme.
Tony McElroy, head of communications for Tesco in Scotland, said: "Due to the sustained need for the emergency support we're seeing from community groups, we took the decision to extend the scheme's deadline beyond the original 12-week mark.
"We're already working with all kinds of groups the length and breadth of the country, all of whom are in urgent need of a cash boost in order to go on providing local people with vital services, but we've widened this even further.
"Whether you are from a homeless charity, a food bank or a support network for vulnerable individuals, you could qualify for some immediate financial support."
Tesco CEO Dave Lewis said: “Our stores are at the heart of the communities we serve. As well as supporting our customers and colleagues, we want to help those who need it most locally.
"We will significantly boost our food donations programme, to ensure food banks and community groups have the supplies they need, while giving extra resources to the British Red Cross and focusing our Bags of Help scheme to deliver more community support where its most needed at this difficult time.”
Tesco's Bags of Help Covid-19 Community Fund aims to support as many groups as possible across the country with grants of £500. These include women’s refuges, food banks, hospices, homelessness charities, social isolation groups, schools, charities supporting the elderly and local authorities.
The process is managed through the website of Tesco's partner charity Greenspace Scotland. Any groups that would benefit from this funding are encouraged to apply at www.tescobagsofhelp.org.uk
