CHESTNUT Community Events Charity in Kendal 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 up to £4,000, up to £2,000 and £1,000 raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco stores awarded to local community projects.

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

Chestnut Community Events Charity is one of the groups on the shortlist. They provide activities for children, young people and adults in Cumbria, particularly the South Lakes area, in nurseries, primary and secondary schools, clubs, and organisations. They plan workshops and facilitate events so that staff and leaders can participate with the group, helping them to build on friendship and team work. They also support a young adults’ initiative in a Community Roots project, which integrates young people who might not be in education, employment, or training.

“We are helping maintain a courtyard at Westmorland General Hospital growing fruit, flowers and vegetables that is benefitting local volunteers, visitors, patients and staff,” said Jan Quinn, project manager.

“We work in partnership with the estates department at Kendal where we enhance spaces creating a community garden for our service users and others to enjoy.”

Voting is open in all Tesco stores throughout January and February. Customers can 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 £40 million to 9,700 projects up and down the UK. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.

Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for January and February. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see these come to life in hundreds of communities.”