A Stronger Start

In August, we were fortunate to be awarded funding from Tesco Stronger Starts.

Supported by Groundwork, the programme supports schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations, with a focus on projects that provide food and support to young people.

That snacks trolley has seen plenty of refills the past few weeks!

After a lengthy campaign of visits to Tesco and picking up blue counters, it's great to see the difference an improved selection of food, snacks and refreshments have made to club nights and the after school drop in. Ventures to the pound shop or to McDonald's have been hanging around the snacks trolley. "Pizzas are ready!" is the shout from Yvonne that gathers a crowd of young people quicker than any celebrity appearance ever could.

What is the Tesco Stronger Starts Grant?

The Tesco Stronger Starts grant supports thousands of local community projects and good causes throughout the UK. These projects have included things like providing food for breakfast clubs or food throughout the day in schools, addressing holiday hunger, healthy eating projects or new equipment for activities.

We felt that Stronger Starts would be the perfect grants programme to support our club nights and after school activities in the youth café through being able to provide food and refreshments for members - as a result, we applied for the C.A.F.E (Club and Food Enhanced) project.

In our round of the Stronger Starts grants programme, we were joined by two incredible organisations. Firstly, Include Youth, who were seeking support for their Queen Street Drop-In, supporting care experienced young people. Also in the Stronger Starts round was 1st Strabane Scout Group, seeking new camping equipment for "Putting the Out Back Into Scout". We were delighted to be awarded £1,000 in funding towards the C.A.F.E project and have already seen a noticeable boost to the atmosphere at club nights with the improved selection of food and snacks we have been able to provide.