MK Act calls out for votes to get a share of Tesco’s Stronger Starts fund
MK Act is bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme. Stronger Starts provides grant awards of up to £1,500 to local community projects, with a particular focus on children and young people.
Three groups in every community have been shortlisted to receive grant awards and Tesco customers can vote for the group they think should take away the top award in their local Tesco store. MK Act is one of the groups on the shortlist in Milton Keynes. Friendly Foodies is an initiative based at the women’s refuge centered around the joy of learning new cookery skills, enhancing nutrition and health, reducing food waste and fostering a sense of community for survivors of abuse. Importantly, the sessions will be designed and supported by volunteers from Milton Keynes Soroptimist group.
Voting is open in all Tesco stores from October to Mid-January 2025. Customers will cast their vote using a blue token given to them at the check-out each time they shop. Tesco’s Stronger Starts – previously known as Tesco Community Grants – has already provided over £110 million to more than 60,000 projects across Britain. This £5m Stronger Starts grant programme, delivered in partnership with Groundwork UK, helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, and sports equipment for after school clubs.
Claire de Silva, Tesco UK Head of Communities and Local Media, said: “Helping schools and children’s groups access the food and resources they need is vitally important in getting children a stronger start in life. Children with enough food have more energy, better concentration, and ultimately achieve more too.”
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “As a community charity, we have seen first-hand how schools and other groups supporting young people have been playing a much bigger role in ensuring children are getting a healthy start to the day and getting access to spaces and services to support physical activity and mental health. Family budgets are tight and school budgets are tight, but it’s so important that children stay fed, fit and focused, so we’re delighted to be able to prioritise these activities alongside Tesco with the Stronger Starts programme.”
Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities, particularly those helping to provide food and giving children the support they need for a good start in life. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online.
To find out more visit tescoplc.com/strongerstarts
Here is a list of the participating stores where you can cast your vote:
Milton Keynes 2351 Melrose Av Bletchley Exp Small unit MK3 6PB
Milton Keynes 2493 Egerton Gate Mk Exp Small unit MK5 7HH
Milton Keynes 2605 Greenleys Mk Express Small unit MK12 6AX
Milton Keynes 2615 Heelands Mk Express Small unit MK13 7PN
Milton Keynes 2885 M K Kingston Extra Large unit MK10 0AH
Milton Keynes 2892 Walnut Tree Express Small unit MK7 7AN
Milton Keynes 2893 Oldbrook Express Small unit MK6 2JB
Milton Keynes 2896 Milton Keynes Wolverton Large unit MK12 5RJ
Milton Keynes 2898 Milton Key Bletchley Ext Large unit MK1 1DD
Milton Keynes 2932 Newport Pagnell Elthorne Exp Small unit MK16 0JR
Milton Keynes 2999 North Furzton Mk Exp Small unit MK4 1EN
Milton Keynes 4397 Stony Stratford Express Small unit MK11 1BY
Milton Keynes 4818 Giffard Park Exp Small unit MK14 5QD
Milton Keynes 5023 Old Farm Park Mk Exp Small unit MK7 8QU
Milton Keynes 5070 Tinkers Bridge Mk Exp Small unit MK6 3DD
Milton Keynes 5398 Buckingham Rd Blet Exp Small unit MK3 5BP
Milton Keynes 5594 Oxley Park Mk Exp Small unit MK4 4TB
Milton Keynes 5747 Olney Market Plac Exp Small unit MK46 4BA
Milton Keynes 6561 Woburn San 5 H St Exp Small unit MK17 8RQ
