East Kent Mencap
East Kent Mencap is delighted to announce it has bagged £2,000 from Tesco’s Bags of Help community grant scheme.
Bags of Help is run in partnership with environmental charity Groundwork, and sees grants raised from the sale of carrier bags awarded to thousands of local community projects every year. Since launching in 2015, it’s provided more than £48 million to over 13,000 local community projects.
Millions of shoppers have voted in Tesco stores up and down the country and it can now be revealed East Kent Mencap has been awarded £2,000.
The grant will be used to buy specialist equipment for a sensory room for people with complex needs where they can relax with music, lights and soft furnishings. One of the first people to enjoy this resource, will be Rhys.
His mum said: “It’s very important to Rhys and us as a family to have a day resource centre for complex needs as it gives us as a family respite, but more important it gives Rhys time to socialise with others that are in the same situation as himself with complex needs. We as a family could not ask for more knowing he is going to be well cared for in a very well adapted resource centre as there isn’t anything else locally for complex needs.”
Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, said: “Bags of Help has been a fantastic success and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers. It’s such a special scheme because it’s local people who decide how the money will be spent in their community. We can’t wait to see the projects come to life.”
Voting ran in stores throughout January and February with customers choosing which local project they would like to get the top award using a token given to them at the checkout.
Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups each time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions are awarded funding.
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
Ramsgate Rotary Club
A donation of £1,000 to the YouCan Youth Cancer Support Group was made by Ramsgate Rotary Club, with the promise of £2,000 more to follow.
This year’s President, Graham Larcombe, next year’s Pat Hersant and the following year’s president, Henry Golding, all agreed to give the money over a three year period to the home which gives free holidays to young people, their friends and family, in a Westgate property.
Terrie Kennor, the charity’s East Kent co-ordinator, received the cheque at a weekly meeting of the club at the Pegwell Bay Hotel.
She thanked the club for their support for the charity which gives young sufferers a chance to have a break from their day to day lives and the stress and anxiety of living with cancer.
Oasis Domestic Abuse Service
South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay visited the Oasis charity shop in Northdown Road, Cliftonville to present a cheque for £1,010 to Oasis CEO Deborah Cartwright. The money was raised at an event organised by Kingsgate resident Christina Rhodes and sponsored by Craig Mackinlay and the South Thanet Conservative Association on International Women’s Day.
Craig commented on the attractive ’boutique style’ layout of the shop in which all clothing is dry-cleaned prior to being displayed and is offered for sale in pristine condition. He perused the men’s wear section and purchased a striking mauve and blue silk striped tie. We are all encouraged to recycle these days and Craig is leading the way!
Craig Mackinlay and South Thanet Conservative Association are proud to support the valuable work Oasis undertake supporting vulnerable victims of domestic violence within our community.
SSAF Armed Forces charity
A charity race night will be held with Thanet Academy FM radio at the Birchington United Services Club on Tuesday, April 10.
The event at the club, in Station Road, offers a cheap bar, homemade cake and raffle prizes.
Race night starts at 7pm and costs £3 per person. Book a place by emailing [email protected] or text 07555 718269