Carrier bag levy is big deal for schools environmental projects

Bags of Help - Tesco customers will have the chance to vote for three Moray primary schools.
Bags of Help – Tesco customers will have the chance to vote for three Moray primary schools.

COMMUNITY GROUPS IN MORAY can be helped to achieve their aims through a scheme that challenges Tesco Store customers to ‘bag a share’ of their £12.5million carrier bag charge fund.

The supermarket giant has teamed up with Groundwork for its ‘Bags of Help’ initiative, which will see grants of between £8000 and £12,000 being made courtesy of the 5p carrier bag levy.

Grants will go to community groups concerned with environmental and greenspace projects – with Greenspace Scotland also working with Groundwork to provide support to communities.

Shoppers at Tesco stores in Moray are being invited to vote for who they believe should take each amount on offer – with three projects in Moray primary schools seeking project support – Dyke, Hythehill and Logie.

Voting will open in stores from October 31 and end on November 13. Customers will be able to cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store.

Tony McElroy, Tesco’s Head of Communications in Scotland, said: “The first round of the Bags of Help initiative was a fantastic success.

“In total 1170 community groups were awarded £8,000, £10,000 or £12,000 – that’s a massive £11.7million being invested into local projects. We are already seeing results with some groups transforming their own environmental and greenspace areas.

“We are absolutely delighted to be opening voting for round two. We hope that even more customers will choose to support groups that mean a lot to them and to their communities.

“There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them come to life with Bags of Help grants.”

Emma Halliday, Community Enabler Coordinator at Greenspace Scotland, said: “Bags of Help is giving our communities both the funding and the support to create better, healthier and greener places for everyone to enjoy.

“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.

“They’re all fantastic projects that make a real difference in our neighbourhoods.  We’re looking forward to learning the results of the customer vote in early October and then supporting each group to bring their project to life.”

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