Fishery's bid to land charity cash

A community angling organisation is hoping to net a big cash boost.
Martin TaylorMartin Taylor
Martin Taylor

Fir Tree Fishery CIC at Appley Bridge is bidding for money from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

The supermarket chain teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to community projects.

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Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who should land the top grant and Fir Tree is in the running.

The project aims to create new opportunities for anglers with disabilities and organisers have identified the need for a timber angling shelter with outdoor heating and lighting facilities over one of its ponds that will allow it to deliver angling rehabilitation events throughout the winter months.

Founder and MD Martin Taylor said: “We are both delighted and honoured that our project has been shortlisted for the Tesco Bags of Help Initiative.

“We create some fantastic opportunities for individuals who have previously been excluded or not able to be involved in angling and this new facility will allow us to do so much more. We really hope the local community can get behind our project and vote in store.

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“This will allow us to create so many new opportunities for our beneficiaries.”

Voting is open in stores throughout March and April. 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 £27m to more than 3,500 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 March and April. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities.”

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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.”

Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp

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