Groundworks will fund capital projects through the ‘Bags of Help’ grant scheme in association with Tesco, that provide community benefit that do not charge for access. They will award grants each year in around 400 Tesco regions to make sure the funding is spread evenly across England, Wales and Scotland*.
The Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ grant scheme uses the money raised from the 5p bag charge in Tesco stores in England, Wales and Scotland which will be used to pay for a large number of local projects to improve green spaces in communities. Projects that will get the green light as a result of the funding will include building new pocket parks, sports facilities, woodland walks and community gardens.
Administration of the local funding will be managed by the community charity with a green heart, Groundwork, which specialises in transforming communities and the local environment for the better.
In total the Bags of Help programme will support thousands of projects each year.
Because they are expecting there to be a major demand for grants, Groundwork will assess all of the applications received and then provide a shortlist of the applications received for a Tesco Shortlisting Group to agree three successful projects to forward to a vote in Tesco stores.
Tesco customers will vote over two weekends in their store for their favourite shortlisted local project. Grants will then be awarded as follows:
1st place in Tesco customer vote: £12,000 grant
2nd place in Tesco customer vote: £10,000 grant
3rd place in Tesco customer vote: £8,000 grant
The grants programme will be open to organisations such as: voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies, schools, hospices, community councils, local authorities and housing organisations. Other not-for-profit organisations might also be eligible.
What the grants can fund – Projects that would typically receive funding include:
- Parks, pocket parks and urban green spaces
- Green corridors – river and canals, cycle ways
- Formal and informal play areas
- Open access sports facilities within public parks and recreation grounds – eg football pitches, tennis courts and cricket pitches
- Informal outdoor recreation facilities; eg gym equipment, trim trails and woodland walks
- Nature reserves, community woodland, ponds and village greens
- Churchyards
- Seafront improvements
- Community allotments, community gardens, orchards and city farms
- Spaces in the grounds of hospices and day centres
- Allotments
- School grounds
- Community spaces on housing estates or residential areas
You do not need to have any matchfunding for your project, but if you do include matchfunding, this must not be higher than 25% of your total project costs. Your project can be a stand-alone project or a discrete, self-contained part of a larger scheme or part of a phased project. You will need to complete your project within twelve months of receipt of the grant.
You will need the landownders permission and you might also need other permissions such as planning permission. These need to be in place before you submit your application.
Applying for a grant – Important dates:
The first round of funding is now closed. Round 2 will open on Monday 18 April 2016. for application and more details see www.groundwork.org.uk
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