Tesco Golden Grant helps Antrim church provide back-to-school kits

This year, the church donated 120 kits in time for the school term, including essential stationery such as pencils, pens, rulers, sharpeners, colouring supplies, erasers, folders, tissue, and notebooks.

Families in Antrim have received a timely boost as the Journey Community Church was awarded £5,000 from Tesco’s Golden Grants, part of the supermarket’s Stronger Starts scheme, to support children returning to school.

The funding has enabled the church’s “We Serve Back to School” programme to expand its support, supplying 120 fully stocked kits to pupils in local primary schools this term.

The packs included essential stationery such as pencils, pens, rulers, sharpeners, colouring supplies, erasers, folders, tissue, and notebooks, alongside school bags provided through a partnership with social enterprise Madlug.

Since launching in 2024, the programme has distributed 250 school kits to families across the area, with donations coming from Tesco, the church, and the wider community.

Zara Monteith, Executive Pastor at Journey Community Church, explained the growing need for the initiative:

“According to data from charity The Children’s Society, in the last two years uniform costs have been around £287 for a child in primary school, not including the additional costs of supplies families need to provide.

“These costs put huge pressure on families who are already struggling to manage financial pressure, including high utility bills and inflation.

“As a result, some are having to cut back on other essentials such as food or electricity.”

She added that the challenges go beyond finances:

“It also affects a child’s self-esteem and learning ability if they are at a disadvantage to their peers. It can contribute to feelings of social exclusion, social anxiety, or shame if the child shows up to class without these basic items.”

The Journey Community Churchhas partnered with brand Madlug to provide school bags to local primary schools.

Feedback from parents and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive.

One parent told the church her child was “so proud to open his new pencil case on the first day of school,” highlighting how even small gestures can make a big difference.

Teachers have also reported that children arrive better prepared and more confident in class.

Monteith praised Tesco’s contribution, saying:

“Tesco’s generosity has allowed us to expand the number of kits we provide and improve the quality of items included, such as the school bags provided. Their support means we don’t have to turn families away, and it also helps us to reach new, much-needed areas.”

Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said:

“We are incredibly proud to award Golden Grants to over one hundred schools and groups, like the Journey Community Church, supporting the vital work they do for our children and communities.

“Since we launched our grants programme in 2016, more than £120 million has been given to more than 67,000 local schools and community groups.”

Northern Ireland shoppers can continue to support schools and charities by placing their Tesco blue tokens into voting boxes at store exits.

Further details on the scheme are available at tescostrongerstarts.org.uk.