An Anglesey Rainbows group has secured a £3,500 grant from Tesco’s Bags of Help Scheme.
The funding for the 2nd Holyhead Rainbows will allow the group to hold yet more adventures across the island to empower girls aged from five to seven-years-old.
“This Bags of Help funding from Tesco has been a vital boost to our unit and we’ve already been able to hold a range of exciting trips that were near on impossible for us to take kids on this time last year,” said Rainbows leader, Dona Williams.
Since receiving the funding, the group, which meets at Canolfan Gymunedol Gwelfor Community Centre has taken youngsters on trips and has invested in new equipment including a mobile speaker, recording equipment, camera and educational supplies. The remaining money will continue to allow the group to provide yet more engaging trips on the island.
Dona added: “We applied for the grant last year and we were lucky enough to be accepted on the scheme. Mary Kitching, Tesco Extra Holyhead community champion, was incredibly supportive throughout the whole process and made the application extremely easy. Families and friends truly got behind our campaign and we were thrilled when we found out that we took first place!
“To date, a favourite trip of mine has to be the rock-climbing session we held, which the girls loved. It was a true test of resilience for mind and body!
“Going forwards, we have an equipment order in for wellies, hats and jackets, to make sure we can hold yet more trips and make the most of our amazing surroundings as the weather makes a turn for the worse.”
Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch the Bags of Help funding initiative in 2015, which has since awarded grants to thousands of local community projects every year.
Mary Kitching, Tesco Extra Holyhead community champion said: “We held a winner’s bash for the girls’ in-store to present the group with the cheque. It’s been great to see girls across the island benefit from the funding; enjoying things they wouldn’t ordinarily experience whilst aiding their empowerment and development.”
Rhodri Evans, Tesco’s Community Manager for Wales, said: “We have awarded more than £5 million to local projects across Wales and it is good to see every part of the country benefitting. It is great to see the girls at the 2nd Holyhead Rainbows having some amazing experiences thanks to the funding they have received.
Since launching in 2015, Bags of Help has awarded more than £80million to more than 27,000 projects all over the UK.
Customers are able to vote for a Bags of Help project in store using a blue token given to them at the check-out. At the end of voting period, votes are collected and three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.
