Tesco shoppers in Antrim have chosen Guide Dogs charity to give a £10k grant to as part of a celebratory Community Grant one-off funding campaign.
On October 15th, 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. The total amount being given away in gold tokens was worth £1million in grants to local good causes.
Guide Dogs was one of three local charities available to vote for in the Antrim Massereene store to receive one of the 100 £10,000 Golden Grants.
The £1 million donation marks £100 million in Tesco Community Grants being given to more than 50,000 good causes since they were launched in 2016. Good causes that have benefited include breakfast clubs, food banks, Meals on Wheels, playgrounds and green spaces, parks and green spaces, counselling and support services for young people and children’s sports teams.
With many small, often volunteer-run groups facing rising costs, Tesco Community Grants are vital at the moment to help them keep going. The current cost of living crisis is also seeing many groups starting to offer hot meals or warm spaces in addition to their usual services.
Claire De Silva, head of communities and local media at Tesco, said:
“These events across the country were not only a really fun occasion in store, with our colleagues and customers really keen to get involved but also an important opportunity for people to choose a local good cause to receive the £10,000 grant. Hopefully, this will help to make a difference to everyone that they continue to support within our communities.”
Jo Berry from Guide Dogs charity said:
“Guide Dogs are delighted to have been selected for a Golden Grant by the customers of Tesco. Custom Eyes Books is a unique product that gives children and young people with vision impairment the chance to read a real book, just like their peers.
"With such a generous amount we will be able to create close to 300 of these very special books for children in the Antrim and Ballymena area. We would like to thank Tesco and the local community for helping us to expand and deliver this life-changing service.”
If you know a child who would benefit from Custom Eyes books please visit:
Comments