Tesco shoppers in Portadown have chosen to give £5,000 to St John’s P.S Gilford as part of its Stronger Starts campaign.

Shoppers in 100 large Tesco stores were given the chance to take part in a lucky dip to find specially created gold versions of its iconic blue voting token worth £500,000 in grants to local good causes.

St John’s P.S Gilford was one of three local organisations available to vote for in the Meadows Shopping Centre store to receive the £5,000 Golden Grant.

Customers who find a gold token will be able to choose which local school or community project will receive a £5,000 Golden Grant to spend on equipment or healthy food to help give children a stronger start in life.

The grants awarded will help 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 equipment for healthy activities.

With many small, often volunteer-run groups facing rising costs, Stronger Starts grants are vital now to help them keep going.

Claire De Silva, head of communities and local media at Tesco, said: “Our Super Saturday events across the country were a really fun occasion in store, with our colleagues and customers keen to get involved and be a part of choosing which local good cause received the £5,000 grant. Hopefully, this will help to make a difference to everyone that they continue to support within our communities.”

Zoe Bell, the Tesco customer who drew the golden token, said:

“I decided to go with St. John’s P.S. as a few members of my family are Primary teachers, so I understand the importance of outdoor play and allowing kids to keep active. My mum also works in Seagoe P.S. alongside St. John’s for shared education. I think they’ll really appreciate and benefit from their new play area.”

Golden Grants are awarded twice a year and are part of Tesco Stronger Starts, a £5m grant programme in partnership with Groundwork UK. The grants are there to help 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 equipment for healthy activities.

Schools and children’s groups can apply via Groundwork for a grant by going to www.tescoplc.com/strongerstarts. Successful applications will go to a vote in their local Tesco store where customers choose which of the three projects, they’d like to support by voting with a blue token.
Since Tesco launched its Community Grants programme in 2016, more than £100million has been given to more than 50,000 local schools and community groups.