Supermarket's £20k emergency grants

A total of 40 community groups across the Sunderland area have benefited from Tesco's COVID-19 Community Fund since the start of lockdown.

Through its Bags of Help initiative, and as part of the retailer' s emergency response in helping communities, a single payment of £500 was provided to organisations that support vulnerable groups.

The support from T es co, totalling £20,000, included money for those that experienced increased demand or disruption to services as a result of lockdown and to help fund new community services.

And although the £500 funding has come to an end, the supermarket is now announcing a further extension to Bags of Help over the next two months – which will see it give away £1,000 grants to support youth groups across the region.

Organisations that can apply include those supporting mental health, offering outdoor and educational activities, helping young carers, providing bereavement counselling and assisting those in poverty or at risk. For more information, including further examples of what would meet the funding criteria, go to www.tescobagsofhelp.org.uk David Ford, communications manager for Tesco in the North, said: “Although the £500 grants have made a real difference to a range of charities, we've extended our support. further.

“Young people have been among those most impacted by the pandemic, with schools closing and many missing out on all-important services impacted by lockdown.”