Weymouth and Portland organisations to compete for share of funding

Voting is under way as projects hope for a share of a Tesco funding pot of almost £300,000.

The supermarket chain is inviting local shoppers to cast their votes for Atlantic Academy (Portland), Royal National Lifeboat Institution or The Will Mackaness Trust to receive funding of up to £4,000 through a special round of its Bags of Help scheme.

Bags of Help, run in partnership with Groundwork, sees funding awarded to thousands of community projects every year.

For this special round, which will run alongside the usual voting rounds, shoppers will be casting their votes using blue tokens handed out at checkout points in 42 seaside towns throughout June. Customers can vote with a token every time they shop in a Tesco store.

More than 100 projects working to improve Britain’s coastline are set to share in the funding pot, with a total of £7,000 available locally.

Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, said: “Bags of Help has already been making waves across Britain, responding to the needs of local communities and by listening to colleagues and customers, we identified an opportunity to dedicate funding to groups and charities improving and preserving our wonderful coastlines.

“From life-saving and swimming safety projects, to sailing clubs, beach clean ups and coastal wildlife projects, we’ve seen a fantastic mix of nominations, and we encourage customers to cast their votes in store for shortlisted groups this month.”

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, said: “Bags of Help continues to enable local communities up and down Britain to improve their local spaces and the places that matter to them. We’re pleased to be able to be a part of the journey and provide support and encouragement to groups enjoying, protecting and improving Britain’s coastlines.”

Anyone can nominate a project for Bags of Help, and organisations and groups looking to find out more or apply should visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp