Tesco Stronger Starts

Charity Number: CUSTOM_5CD13794

Annual Expenditure: £5.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5,000,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-12 months (from application to shortlisting for customer vote)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £1,500
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Contact Details

Website: https://tescostrongerstarts.org.uk

Email: tescostrongerstarts@groundwork.org.uk

Phone: 0121 236 8565 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday)

Pre-application Support: Groundwork serves as grant funding enablers, offering tailored advice to strengthen proposals. Contact the team at the email above for personalized support.

Overview

Tesco Stronger Starts, formerly known as Tesco Community Grants, was launched in 2016 as a partnership between Tesco and Groundwork UK. Since its inception, the programme has awarded over £101 million in funding to more than 50,880 community projects across the UK. With an annual giving budget of approximately £5 million, the programme distributes grants through a unique customer voting system using Tesco's blue tokens. The programme focuses exclusively on supporting children and young people aged 0-16, with current strategic priorities emphasizing children's food security, health, and wellbeing. Every three months, three local organisations per Tesco store are selected to participate in customer voting, with awards ranging from £500 to £1,500. The programme is distinctive in that Tesco customers directly influence which local projects receive funding, with over 738 million votes cast since the programme began.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Tesco Stronger Starts Grants: £500 - £1,500

  • Rolling application system with no fixed deadlines
  • Three organisations per local Tesco store selected quarterly for customer voting
  • First place (most votes): up to £1,500
  • Second place: up to £1,000
  • Third place: up to £500
  • Applications can be submitted online at any time
  • Selection times typically take 6-12 months

Cooking for All Fund: £1,000 grants (150 grants available periodically)

  • Special campaign run in partnership with The Sun
  • Focused specifically on nutrition, healthy eating, and cooking projects
  • Note: This is a periodic fund with specific application windows (not always open)

Priority Areas

Current Strategic Priorities:

  • Children's food security and access to healthy food
  • Projects that support young people's mental and physical wellbeing
  • Breakfast clubs and healthy snack provision
  • Outdoor and indoor activity equipment for schools
  • Food growing areas and gardening projects
  • After-school clubs supporting children and families
  • Food banks and community food projects for families
  • Projects nominated by local Tesco stores

Eligible Project Examples:

  • Schools providing food for breakfast clubs or snacks throughout the day
  • Schools purchasing equipment for outdoor or indoor activities
  • Schools developing food growing areas
  • Voluntary organisations running food banks for families
  • Community groups offering healthy eating and cooking programmes
  • Projects that help children reconnect with nature
  • Activities that boost young people's mental and physical health

What They Don't Fund

  • Activities collecting funds for redistribution to other charities or individuals
  • Overseas appeals or expeditions/overseas travel
  • Promotion of religious or political causes
  • Marketing promotions or research projects
  • Purchase of land
  • Projects or activities that the state has a legal obligation to provide
  • Statutory costs for schools or local authorities
  • Fundraising activities or challenges (e.g., skydives)
  • Retrospective costs (already committed or spent), including design fees, planning permissions, or community consultation costs
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Governance and Leadership

Tesco Stronger Starts is a partnership between Tesco PLC and Groundwork UK, with Groundwork managing the website and administering the funding across the UK. In Scotland, Groundwork works in partnership with Greenspace Scotland to support successful projects. The programme operates under Tesco's broader corporate social responsibility framework, though specific trustee or leadership names for the Stronger Starts programme are not publicly disclosed. The programme is delivered at a local level through individual Tesco stores, with store colleagues helping to identify and nominate local good causes in their communities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Read the Guidance Notes: All applicants are strongly recommended to review detailed eligibility criteria before applying
  2. Find Your Local Tesco Store: Use the store locator on the Tesco website to identify your nearest store (required for application)
  3. Submit Online Application: Applications are submitted through the online portal at tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant
  4. Seek Support if Needed: Visit your local Tesco store for application help, or contact Groundwork for tailored advice to strengthen your proposal

Application Method: Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines, applications accepted year-round

Important Notes:

  • Match funding is NOT required - Tesco Stronger Starts can fund 100% of project costs
  • Projects have one year from award to spend the funds
  • No restriction on capital (direct) or revenue (indirect) costs

Decision Timeline

  • Application to Shortlisting: Typically 6-12 months
  • Voting Period: 3 months (once shortlisted)
  • Notification: Organisations are notified if selected for customer voting in their local Tesco store
  • Award Distribution: After voting period concludes, with first place receiving up to £1,500, second place up to £1,000, third place up to £500

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, programme statistics indicate:

  • Over 50,880 projects funded since 2016
  • Every three months, three organisations per Tesco store are selected for customer voting
  • All three shortlisted organisations receive funding (amounts vary by voting position)

Reapplication Policy

Applications that are unsuccessful or miss the deadline for a particular selection round automatically remain in consideration for future voting rounds. There is no restriction on reapplying, and organisations can submit new applications at any time through the rolling programme. The continuous consideration approach means unsuccessful applications don't need to be resubmitted unless the organisation wants to update project details.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment:

  • Priority is currently given to projects supporting children's food security and health, as well as local store-nominated good causes
  • Projects should clearly demonstrate impact on children and young people aged 0-16
  • Strong local connections matter - projects nominated by local Tesco stores have priority consideration

Application Tips from Groundwork:

  • Contact Groundwork before applying for tailored advice to strengthen your proposal
  • Clearly articulate how your project will provide a “stronger start” for children
  • Focus on outcomes that boost young people's mental and physical wellbeing
  • Demonstrate community need and local support
  • Use language that emphasizes food security, health, wellbeing, and activities that help children thrive

Project Characteristics That Succeed:

  • Schools lacking funds and resources for healthy food and activities
  • Projects addressing immediate, practical needs (breakfast clubs, snack provision, activity equipment)
  • Community food initiatives that prevent food waste while feeding children
  • Projects that help children “reconnect with nature” and outdoor spaces
  • Initiatives combining multiple benefits (e.g., food growing that provides healthy food AND outdoor learning)

Voting Phase Considerations:

  • If shortlisted, your project will compete for customer votes in local Tesco stores
  • All three shortlisted projects receive funding, but amounts depend on vote rankings
  • Community engagement and visibility during the voting period can influence outcomes
  • Consider how to mobilize local support through your networks

Common Characteristics of Funded Projects:

  • Clear focus on children and young people
  • Practical, deliverable projects ready to implement
  • Strong emphasis on food, nutrition, physical activity, or mental wellbeing
  • Local community benefit
  • Projects that schools or small organizations couldn't otherwise afford

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Match Funding Required: Tesco Stronger Starts can fund 100% of project costs up to £1,500, making it accessible for small organizations with limited resources
  • Rolling Applications Are Strategic: With no fixed deadlines and a 6-12 month selection timeline, apply early and be patient - unsuccessful applications automatically roll forward to future consideration
  • Prioritize Food Security and Health: Current strategic priorities strongly emphasize children's food security and health outcomes - frame your project around these themes for best alignment
  • Local Store Relationships Matter: Projects nominated by local Tesco stores receive priority - consider building relationships with your local Tesco colleagues before or alongside your application
  • Leverage Free Support: Groundwork offers tailored advice to strengthen applications - use this free resource to improve your chances before submitting
  • Customer Voting Requires Community Engagement: If shortlisted, all three organizations receive funding, but amounts depend on customer votes - be prepared to mobilize community support during the 3-month voting period
  • Focus on Practical, Ready-to-Deliver Projects: The fund favors projects that are ready to implement immediately with tangible benefits for children, rather than planning phases or design work

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