InYourArea Community

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

Organisations which support children such as out of school clubs and young carers can apply for the grants which are funded by a new scheme launched by Tesco

InYourArea Community

By InYourArea Community

Submitted by Alison Pendlington, edited by Emma Boff

PHOTO: The grants can be used for projects to encourage children to pay freely, such as workshops in Out of School Childcare Clubs

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.

The aim of the funding is to encourage children to play freely, connect with nature and engage in fun outdoor activities away from the distractions of social media.

One group which has already benefited from a Bags of Help grant worth £1,000, is Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs, which supports Out of School Childcare Clubs across Wales.

The grants have been used to fund groups who support children and help them connect with nature and engage in fun outdoor activities

The organisation received grants to help it deliver 70 workshops through six 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, Cardiff, 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.”

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.

Applications for funding can be made for schemes which support fun activities to help children avoid distractions such as social media

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.

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.

Any local groups that would benefit from this funding are encouraged to apply here online at www.tescobagsofhelp.org.uk

NEWSLETTER-Image-Link-for-Articles-5