A Ballymena non-profit organisation was awarded a Tesco Community Grant to host an event for its 100 members.
Good Morning Ballymena is a free telephone and befriending service for adults 60+ who may feel lonely and need companionship and the organisation received a £1,000 grant to host a tea dance for its members.
Good Morning Ballymena received the money through Tesco’s Community Grant scheme, which uses the money raised from the levy on carrier bags to fund projects across the UK that aim to improve the well-being of people in its local community.
The Tea Dance was held at the Harryville Community Centre on 28 February 2023.
Debbie Chestnutt at Good Morning Ballymena said:
“We are extremely grateful to Tesco for giving us the funding we need to keep providing this vital service to our members in Ballymena.
“As our members had not been together for over two years this was a great opportunity for them to meet face-to-face and gave them the opportunity to meet our volunteers for the first time as they only hear their voices over the phone.
“Our goal is to reduce our member’s isolation, and loneliness and encourage them to get out and meet their friends again and the Tesco community grant has helped us achieve that."
Tesco works in partnership with Groundwork to deliver its Community Grant funding scheme, which provides grants to thousands of local projects in communities across the UK, all voted on by customers in-store.
Tony McElroy, Tesco’s Community Manager for Northern Ireland, added:
“It’s truly wonderful to see the staff at Good Morning Ballymena showing such commitment to improving the lives of the older generation in Ballymena.
“Its organisations like this why our Tesco Community Grants exist as it shows first-hand how our grants can have a positive impact on local communities”.
Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop using the blue token given to them at checkouts. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups that positively impact its community will be awarded funding of between £4,000 and £1,000.
Tesco regularly supports Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, Trussell Trust and FareShare through food donations and collections, in-store donations, charitable events, Race for Life participation, sponsorship, and matching customer contributions and donations.
To find out more about Tesco Community Grants go to:
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