Local schools call on Derry shoppers for backing in Tesco token vote

A trio of Derry schools and good causes are in the running for much-needed funds to help young people.

Irish Medium Education primary school Naíscoil an Phiarsaigh Doire Trasna, Ballykelly Primary School and Thornhill College Girls' Grammar School have been selected in the latest round of voting in Tesco’s Blue Token scheme, with £500, £1,000 and £1,500 available – and customers can now vote for the one they want to support.

This year, Tesco is particularly keen to support Derry initiatives that have a clear food focus for young people, including breakfast clubs, holiday food provision, access to healthy snacks for youth groups, community pantries, cookery and nutrition sessions, and food-growing projects that help children learn where food comes from.

The grants form part of Tesco’s wider Fruit & Veg for Schools ambition, giving schools and community groups funding for healthy food projects as the retailer works to help more than one million schoolchildren get fruit and vegetables through its school and community programmes.

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Naíscoil an Phiarsaigh Doire Trasna is keen to receive funding for its Healthy Snacks and Play programme, which will provide pupils with nutritious snacks such as fruit, whole grains, and dairy or plant-based options. The project aims to encourage positive eating habits from an early age, supporting children’s health and wellbeing for the future.

Also in line for funding is Ballykelly Primary School, which is looking to use the money it receives for its Green Fingers project. Each class will plant, care for and harvest their own crops, before setting up a produce station in the playground where pupils and parents can take home the fruits of their hard work.

Lastly, Thornhill College will use the grant it gets to support their Young Carers Care and Share programme. The initiative will provide an inclusive space where young carers can connect with peers who understand their experiences, helping to promote emotional wellbeing and ensuring they never feel alone.

Claire de Silva, head of community at Tesco, said: “Every child deserves the chance to enjoy healthy food and build the foundations for a stronger future, so we want to support the brilliant schools and community groups in Derry helping children and young people access nutritious food.

“Whether that’s a breakfast club, a pantry, cookery sessions or a project that helps children grow and try new foods, we’d encourage local organisations to apply for the grants – and we’d love shoppers to get involved when the customer vote comes to their local store.”

Customers can vote for the good cause they want to support by dropping the Tesco token they receive at the checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store. Each funding round features three local projects, with grants awarded based on the number of tokens received.

Schools and community groups in Derry can apply for funding in future rounds via Tesco, as the retailer looks to support more local projects helping children and young people access healthy, nutritious food. In recent years, thousands of pounds have been donated to Derry good causes.

For more information about the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme and find out how to apply for a grant, visit: https://www.tescoplc.com/fruit-and-veg-grants