Forth Valley College is bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme.
Stronger Starts provides grant awards of up to £1,500 to local community projects, with a particular focus on children and young people. Three groups in every community have been shortlisted to receive grant awards and Tesco customers can vote for the group they think should take away the top award in their local Tesco store.
FVC’s Paws Against Stress initiative is one of the groups on the shortlist in the Stirling Tesco store. Any funding FVC receives will go towards supporting the much-loved Therapets charity Canine Concern ‘Paws Against Stress’ service, where calming dogs are brought into campus.
The sessions with ‘Paws Against Stress’ are extremely popular and help to alleviate stress and anxiety, particularly in the run up to exams and other stressful life events. Funding secured from Tesco’s Stronger Starts fund will support sessions taking place at FVC’s Stirling Campus.
David Gentles, Learning Skills and Resource Assistant: “We are thrilled to be put forward for the in-store vote. Paws Against Stress has become an important event within the Learning Resource Centre calendar, offering students a chance to relax and de-stress during busy periods. We hope that students and staff will support us to continue with these sessions by raising funds through voting at Tesco Stirling.”
Pauline Jackson, FVC’s Development and Fundraising Manager, said: “We were extremely fortunate to be shortlisted last year for the in-store vote at Tesco, Alloa and it is fantastic to be shortlisted for Stirling this year. The fund supports a wide range of community based projects and it is great to be one of three to receive funding. We hope as many of our staff, students and friends vote in-store at Stirling to support these sessions for our Stirling campus.”
Voting is open in the Stirling Tescos from now until the end of September 2025. Customers will cast their vote using a blue token given to them at the check-out each time they shop.
Tesco’s Stronger Starts – previously known as Tesco Community Grants - has already provided over £117 million to more than 67,000 projects across Britain. This £5m Stronger Starts grant programme helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, and sports equipment for after school clubs.
greenspace scotland is working with community charity, Groundwork to provide support to communities in Scotland.
Tony McElroy, Tesco’s Head of Communications in Scotland, said: “Tesco Stronger Starts help support local good causes but especially those projects supporting young people, those providing food, and local causes close to our colleagues’ hearts.”
Emma Halliday, Community Enabler Coordinator at greenspace scotland, said: “Tesco Stronger Starts continues to give local projects the boost they need to help their communities thrive. By funding services which support young people and reduce food poverty, we hope to facilitate positive change from the ground up across the UK. We are pleased to have been able to help so many local good causes over the years and look forward to seeing what community organisations can achieve in the future with the right resources.”
Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities, particularly those helping to provide food and giving children the support they need for a good start in life. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online.
To find out more visit: https://www.tescoplc.com/sustainability/stronger-starts
