Portsmouth schools and community groups urged to apply for grants to boost children’s access to healthy food
Schools and community groups in Portsmouth are being encouraged to apply for funding through Tesco, as the retailer looks to support more local projects helping children and young people access healthy, nutritious food.
The community grant scheme awards up to £1,500, with shortlisted projects going forward to a customer vote in participating Tesco stores.
Shoppers receive a blue token and can vote by placing it in the in-store unit for the cause they want to support. Each funding round features three local projects, with grants awarded based on the number of tokens received.
Already in Portsmouth, a number of local causes have benefited from the Stronger Starts blue token initiative, helping to improve children’s access to healthier food and nutrition education, including Portsmouth’s Mustard Seed Ministries.
The funding has helped volunteers to provide a consistent, balanced range of healthy food and essential items, including fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy. Tesco’s funding also increased Mustard Seed Ministries’ stock of essential non-food items, such as sanitary products and nappies.
Gillian Reilly-Davidson, CEO at Mustard Seed Ministries, said: “The Tesco grant has had a profound impact on our Oasis Pantry project, allowing us to expand the variety and quantity of fresh, healthy produce we can offer.
“This funding has provided more than just groceries – it's provided stability and dignity to countless families, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our local community have consistent access to the nutritious food they need and deserve. We’re incredibly grateful for this essential support.
“We’d strongly encourage other groups in Portsmouth to apply. The funding and local support have made a genuinely positive impact. Thanks to Tesco, our Oasis Pantry project has been a great success.”
This year, Tesco is particularly keen to hear from initiatives with a clear food focus, including breakfast clubs, holiday food provision, access to healthy snacks for youth groups, community pantries, cookery and nutrition sessions, and food growing projects that help children learn where food comes from.
The call for applications comes as the latest Government diet survey shows that fewer than 1 in 10 children and young people aged 11-18 meet the recommended five-a-day, with those aged 11-18 eating an average of about 2.9 portions of fruit and vegetables per day*.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Every child deserves the chance to enjoy healthy food and build the foundations for a healthier future, so we want to support the brilliant schools and community groups in Portsmouth helping children and young people access nutritious food.
“Whether that’s a breakfast club, a pantry, cookery sessions or a project that helps children grow and try new foods, we’d encourage local organisations to apply – and we’d love shoppers to get involved when the customer vote comes to their local store.”
For more information about Tesco Stronger Starts and how to apply, visit: www.tescoplc.com/sustainability/communities/strongerstarts.