Bags of Help is Tesco’s local community grant scheme where the money raised from the 5p bag levy in Tesco stores is being used to fund thousands of community projects across the UK. The projects must meet the criteria of promoting community participation in the development and use of outdoor spaces. 
Bags of Help is administered by Groundwork and supported in Scotland by greenspace Scotland.
How does Bags of Help work?
Groundwork assesses all of the applications received to ensure they are eligible. This is followed up by Tesco shortlisting groups who decide which projects go forward to the in-store vote.
Three local community projects will be voted on in Tesco stores each month across Tesco regions throughout England, Scotland and Wales. In each region, the project that received the most votes from all stores in their region will receive a grant of up to £5,000. The second placed project receives up to £2,000 and third placed up to £1000. Every year, over 7000 projects will receive funding through this scheme.
Which types of projects are eligible?
Grants will be awarded to voluntary or community organisations (including registered charities/companies), schools, health bodies (eg Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), NHS Hospital Trust, Foundation Trust), Parish/Town Councils and local authorities, social housing providers.
What types of projects will Bags of Help fund?
Bags of Help will fund projects that deliver a physical environmental improvement or encourage the use and long term sustainability of outdoor spaces.
Projects that would typically receive funding include (but are not limited to):
• Developing nature trail in a local park or nature reserve
• Purchasing bee hives and seeding wildflower meadow on a community allotment
• Providing forest school sessions in a primary school for 12 months
• Developing a garden in a hospice, purchasing plants, benches and pergola
• Supporting artist in residence to work with the community to develop an art trail.
• Setting up a growing project for sheltered accommodation residents
• Supporting a gardening project which helps local isolated residents form a gardening club
• Supporting practical training for young people learning horticultural skills
• Funding a series of summer events in a local park
• Funding a programme of beach clean up events
• Repainting swings and play equipment in a park
• Supporting community run summer sports and leisure activities in parks.
• Helping to set up Britain in Bloom local group, purchasing plants, planters, forks, spades and compost.
• Developing a community garden or orchard
• Supporting local football club with the purchase of nets, balls and coaching sessions for under 12’s
For further information and to apply, visit: www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/tescocommunityscheme/pages/Category/apply-for-a-boh-grant-tes2, or contact 0121 237 5780
Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time