Club hoping to land carrier bag windfall

BARWELL’S George Ward Table Tennis Club is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

George Ward Table Tennis Club is one of the groups on the shortlist.

The project started nearly four years ago, using borrowed equipment.

There were only 12 youngsters in the beginning but over the years this has increased dramatically with close to 50 youngsters now taking part.

Teams have been entered in the local league and a Leicester Junior league with some success with three teams winning their respective divisions.

The club are now the victims of their own success and urgently need to expand the project and in order to do so need to but new equipment including tables, nets, bats and balls and club shirts.

Mike Holt, organiser of the Junior Table Tennis Project for George Ward Table Tennis Club said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as one of three organisations to receive this support from Tesco’s bags to Help scheme.

“It will make a tremendous difference to the quality of the project we can deliver in Barwell.

“We urge everyone to give us their support.

“We hope the people of the borough will feel able to support this sporting work with young people in the area, enabling us to secure one of the grants to improve

what we offer by voting for the project at the Tesco stores on Hawley Road and London road in the town.

Voting is open in all Tesco stores throughout July and August.

Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop.

Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already delivered over £30 million to more than 4,600 projects up and down the UK.

Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop.