DROITWICH CVS will receive a £5,000 cash boost from Tesco as part of the supermarket giant’s ‘banish the Blue Monday blues’ campaign held in January this year.
Tesco, working with Heart and Smooth radio stations, wanted to bring joy to good causes with a pot of £300,000 to help 60 organisations across the country.
It was specifically looking for charities and groups which provided food and supported young people, including school breakfast clubs, local food banks, or charities supporting young people to manage mental health.
Droitwich CVS and its Moving Forward Westlands National Lottery-funded project helps those living in Droitwich West.
Based at the community centre on the Westlands Estate, the CVS set up a Community Fridge in October 2021 – as part of Moving Forward.
It is free for those who use it, providing fresh food and essentials including milk to those in need three days a week.
The Westlands Estate is geographically isolated from the rest of Droitwich and has poor pedestrian and transport links.
Since the pandemic, families struggling financially have depended on the services provided by the CVS.
The demand for a community fridge has continued to rise with the cost of living becoming an even greater barrier to financial stability within the community.
Tonia Enderbury, Chief Officer at Droitwich CVS, said: “Thanks to Tesco, we are able to continue and expand our Community Fridge as part of Moving Forward, which will enable us to support more families within the community.
“The Community Fridge has brought people into the community centre where they have been able to access and identify other support that Moving Forward can provide.
“This includes employment, housing and benefit support, debt advice and direct links with fuel suppliers to access fuel vouchers, CAB and PCSO clinics and varying educational and wellbeing courses.
“Moving Forward has established trust within the community to create a recognised community hub and build better opportunities.
“We want to thank Tesco for this generous donation which will help many families throughout Droitwich.”
The campaign ran in addition to Tesco’s Community Grants where shoppers use a blue token to choose which causes they feel should get funding.
This campaign ran in addition to Tesco Community Grants, the in-store scheme where customers vote with blue tokens for community projects and groups, which has been helping local people since 2016.
Claire de Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We wanted to reward fantastic groups who make such a difference to young people and families in their local communities.
“We’re really proud of this campaign and pleased to be able to support the tireless work of charities such as Droitwich CVS.”
Visit tescocommunitygrants.org.uk for more on Tesco Community Grants.
