'Move the Goalposts' voting now open!
Crawley Town Community Foundation is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.
Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch the monthly funding scheme, which sees grants of £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local outdoor community projects. Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and this month shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.
Crawley Town Community Foundation is one of the groups on the shortlist.
Utilising the appeal of a professional football club, our “Move the Goalposts” project will reduce disadvantage and promote social inclusion for those experiencing mental ill-health. The project will offer a range of informal physical/leisure activities, designed to improve mental and social wellbeing and encourage individuals to be more active.
Sport, and in particular football, has been proven to have significant positive impact on the treatment of mental health conditions (Time to Change 2016). Move the Goalposts will not only support the development of physical and mental wellbeing, it will also support individuals to raise aspirations, by providing positive pathways back into community engagement.
We know the project is needed, as it has been based on the findings of a local mental health consultation report. The consultation identified the demand for a physical 'hub', providing a safe space for individuals to be more active and engage with those experiencing similar difficulties. Our 'hub' would be the Checkatrade Stadium, a unique setting that provides an interesting insight into professional football. Sessions would take place on our all weather 3G pitch, which would encourage participants to make use of outdoor space. We would also provide match-day tickets, to encourage attendees to re-engage in community activities.
This funding would allow us to develop a six month pilot project, which we would use to build evidence for a permanent project. This project would also incorporate a range of employment and educational activities, in addition to the sport and leisure element.
We believe the project will have a significant impact on the local community. It would offer an unique opportunity for those with mental ill health to improve wellbeing, through valuable physical and leisure activities.The project would also meet a clearly demonstrated need, bridge a significant gap in current services, and reduce demand on local GP's.
Amy Fazackerley, Crawley Town Community Foundation Community Development Manager, said:
“We are aware, through local consultation, that there is a significant gap in support services for those experiencing mental ill-health. The Tesco Bags of Help grant would enable us to develop a dedicated sports and leisure programme, with additional employment and educational opportunities, to raise aspirations and improve wellbeing for those within our local community. The more money we can raise, the more in-depth and comprehensive a programme we will be able to run.”
Voting is open in stores from 1 February to 25 February. 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 £25 million to more than 3,000 projects up and down the UK. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups each month. At the end of each 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 February. 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.”
The Bags of Help scheme is permanently open for applications and anyone can nominate a project at any time – whether it’s Tesco customers, colleagues or the community groups themselves. Just ask in store for more information or visit the Bags of Help website, visit.www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp/
