Dream Big Sports needs your votes for the Tesco Stronger Starts fund!

Dream Big Sports has recently bid for a financial boost from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme to provide as many opportunities as possible during the school holidays…and we need your help!

Stronger Starts provides grant awards of up to £1500 to local community projects, with a particular focus on children and young people. Three organisations/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.

Dream Big Sports is one of the organisations on the shortlist in Middleton, with the following four stores participating in the public vote:

– Middleton Extra Store – M24 1UQ
– Alkrington Express Store – M24 1LW
– Middleton Oldham Road Express Store – M24 2FA
– Middleton Langley Express Store – M24 5RA

Our project will offer fully funded holiday camp provision for young people who may usually face barriers to participation whilst also tackling the holiday hunger crisis by providing a hot lunch and refreshments on each day of attendance.

Mike Whitehead, Head of Camps at Dream Big Sports, said: “We are over the moon to be shortlisted for the Tesco Stronger Starts fund as we know the huge impact this project can have on local families, supporting them to access our holiday camp provision over the next 12 months. Unfortunately, over recent years, we have identified that access to our provision has become increasingly difficult for some communities so we hope that this financial boost will allow young people to enjoy the benefits of participating in sport & physical activity sessions during the school holidays.”

Voting will be open in the four Tesco stores listed above from 1st July to 30th September 2024. 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 £133,000 and over 65,000 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.

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.”

We hope that you can keep an eye out for our project in your local store and most importantly cast your all important vote for Dream Big Sports!

#TeamDreamBIG