CLUB NEWS: Newport call out for votes to “bag a share” of bag fund

Newport Cycle Speedway Club are bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco stores – being awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

Newport Cycle Speedway Club is one of the groups on the shortlist.

This project will provide limited club clothing and equipment as a minimum for our current club structure of members. We have just been given the privileged of becoming the UK Hub Club for a new cycling discipline called “BMX drift”. If we successfully finish 1st in the voting, this will allow us to expand overnight on the cycling opportunities that we currently offer to the youth in our local and wider community of Newport. Safety gear, new bikes, new kits and new race leagues are on the horizon with maximum support from the local community of Newport.

A club spokesman said: “Our club is at a very exciting place at the moment, as a non profit organisation – the help and support of the token vote from the local public would be greatly appreciated. It will no doubt push us over the hurdle for expansion.”

Voting is open in all Tesco stores throughout November and December. Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop.
Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already delivered over £36 million to nearly 8,000 projects up and down the UK. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.

Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said:“We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for November and December. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see these come to life in hundreds of communities.”

Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said:

“We’ve been thrilled to see the diversity of projects that have applied for funding, ranging from outdoor classrooms, sports facilities, community gardens, play areas and everything in between. We’re looking forward to learning the results of the customer vote and then supporting each group to bring their project to life.”

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online.

To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp