The supermarket’s Stronger Starts scheme offers up to £1500 for initiatives that help children and young people access healthy food, including breakfast clubs, holiday meal programmes, cookery classes, and food growing schemes.
This scheme aims to address low levels of fruit and vegetable consumption among young people, with recent government data showing that fewer than one in 10 children and young people aged 11–18 meet the recommended 5-a-day target.
Claire De Silva, head of community at Tesco, said: “Every child deserves the chance to enjoy healthy food and build the foundations for a healthier future.
“We want to support the brilliant schools and community groups in Scotland helping children and young people access nutritious food.
“Whether that’s a breakfast club, a pantry, cookery sessions or a project that helps children grow and try new foods, we’d encourage local organisations to apply.
“And we’d love shoppers to get involved when the customer vote comes to their local store.”
Each round of voting features three local projects, and grant amounts are determined by the number of tokens received.
Tesco says it is committed to supporting community-led efforts to improve children’s access to healthy food and nutrition education.
Examples of how the scheme is already making a difference include the Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre in Coatbridge, which runs the KNC Kids Club for children aged five to ten.
The club offers cooking classes twice a week, teaching children to prepare healthy meals like soups, pastas, and pizzas.
Other recent recipients include Mearns Primary School in Newton Mearns, which was awarded a £1500 grant to support its breakfast club, ensuring pupils start the day with a healthy meal.
“It’s helped us to buy ingredients and new utensils in our on-site kitchen for local children and young people to use, and the customer vote gave the whole initiative a real lift.”
“We’d strongly encourage other groups to apply.
“The funding and local support have made a genuinely positive impact.”
For more information about the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme and application details, visit Tesco’s website.
