South Kent Mind calls out for votes to get a share of Tesco’s Stronger Starts fund

We're bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme, and need your help!

Posted on Monday, January 6, 2025

South Kent Mind are bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme.

Stronger Starts provides grant awards of up to £1,500 to local community projects, with a particular focus on children and young people.

Three groups in every community have been shortlisted to receive grant awards and Tesco customers can vote for the group they think should take away the top award in their local Tesco store.

South Kent Mind is one of the groups on the shortlist in Folkestone and Hawkinge.

South Kent Mind will deliver a series of four-week courses for young people in our community who are struggling with their wellbeing and have developed mental health problems.

In recent years there has been a significant rise in individuals struggling with their mental health, especially within the younger generation. We hope that by delivering this series of courses aimed at the younger people in our community, they will be better equipped to deal with their mental health challenges and be in a better position for their lives ahead.

Voting is open in all Tesco stores from Mid-January to the end of March 2025. Customers will cast their vote using a blue token given to them at the check-out each time they shop.

Tesco’s Stronger Starts – previously known as Tesco Community Grants - has already provided over £117 million to more than 67,000 projects across Britain.

This £5m Stronger Starts grant programme, delivered in partnership with Groundwork UK, helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, and sports equipment for after school clubs.

Claire de Silva, Tesco UK Head of Communities and Local Media, said: “Helping schools and children’s groups access the food and resources they need is vitally important in getting children a stronger start in life. Children with enough food have more energy, better concentration, and ultimately achieve more too."

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “As a community charity, we have seen first-hand how schools and other groups supporting young people have been playing a much bigger role in ensuring children are getting a healthy start to the day and getting access to spaces and services to support physical activity and mental health. Family budgets are tight and school budgets are tight, but it’s so important that children stay fed, fit and focused, so we’re delighted to be able to prioritise these activities alongside Tesco with the Stronger Starts programme.”

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities, particularly those helping to provide food and giving children the support they need for a good start in life.

Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit tescoplc.com/sustainability/stronger-starts.

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