New grants will be ‘bags of help’

£1,000 grants up for grabs for community groups across Ballymena.

Photograph by Martin Shields — £1,000 grants up for grabs for community groups across Ballymena. Photograph by Martin Shields

Thousands of groups and charities across Northern Ireland 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.

One group in Ballymena which has already benefitted from a Bags of Help grant is Braveheart NI, an organisation that supports teenagers and young adults in Northern Ireland who are living with Congenital Heart Disease.

Founder and Chair of Bravehearts NI, Clare Caulfield, said: “We were absolutely delighted to be one of the recipients of Tesco’s Bags of Help funding as it helped support our Bravehearts across Northern Ireland in this worrying health crisis. The fund acts as a shining example of Tesco backing their messages of support and involvement within the community.”

Tony McElroy, Local Communications Manager for Northern Ireland, said: “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.“

Through the programme, which is run in partnership with community charity Groundwork, 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 online at www.tescobagsofhelp.org.uk