UK Astronomy calls out for votes to bag a share of bag charge fund
UK Astronomy is 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 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – 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.
UK Astronomy is one of the groups on the shortlist.
UK Astronomy started as one man in a field with a passion to teach others. After getting his first scope, Ross created UK Astronomy on Facebook with just 30 of his friends.
Now only 2 years later we have over 2200 members, teach schools, local interest groups, run our own events – ranging from guest speakers to kids clubs and attend any community events we can and are now a charity!
Our dream is to bring communities together. We work with the local deaf astronomical club in Milton Keynes and children with autism in Aylesbury. We run the stars in the park event at Park Life in Aylesbury and we help with the Free Comic Book day in Friars Square.
UK Astronomy would like to fund another telescope so we can help people who want to learn more about Astrophotography with a tracking scope, and we would like to purchase a solar fiilter so we can visit more schools and give them something to see during the day. But we need your help!
Voting is open in the Aylesbury Extra, Aylesbury Super Store, Jackson Road Aylesbury Express and the Wendover Express Tesco Stores throughout July and August. 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 £30 million to more than 4,600 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.
Lindsey Crompton, Head of Community at Tesco, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for July and August. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them 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
