Sussex shoppers set for share of £500,000 gold rush

As part of the supermarket’s Stronger Starts campaign, between 12 noon and 1pm, shoppers at the Battle Express store in Hastings and the West St Horsham Express store can take a lucky dip to find a gold version of Tesco’s famous blue voting token.

Customers who find a gold token will be able to choose which local school or community project will receive a £5,000 Golden Grant to spend on equipment or healthy food to help give children a stronger start in life.

In Hastings, the three local recipients vying for a chance of being awarded the Golden Token and £5,000 are Little Gate Farm, Robsack Wood Primary Academy and Sensory Soft Play.

In Horsham, the winner will be chosen from either Head2Head Theatre, St Andrew's C of E Primary School Nuthurst or Warnham CE Primary School.

Claire De Silva, Head of Communities for Tesco, said: “Right now, £5,000 can make a massive difference to a school or community project and help them give children a stronger start in life. Our Stronger Starts campaign has already funded so many groups and schools right across the UK and we can’t wait to see what these Golden Tokens can do in more communities across the country.

“We’re giving customers who visit these 100 stores the chance to make a difference to a school or group that’s doing amazing work on their doorstep.”

To date, the Battle Express store has given away £159,903 to local good causes, while the West St Horsham Express store has donated £138,099.

Golden Grants are awarded twice a year and are part of Tesco Stronger Starts, a £5million grant programme in partnership with Groundwork UK. The grants are there to help 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 equipment for healthy activities.

Schools and children’s groups can apply via Groundwork for a grant by going to www.tescoplc.com/strongerstarts . Successful applications will go to a vote in their local Tesco store where customers choose which of the three projects they’d like to support by voting with a blue token.

Since Tesco launched its Community Grants programme in 2016, more than £100million has been given to more than 50,000 local schools and community groups.