A SCHOOL has bagged £4,000 from a supermarket giant's community grant scheme

Dove House School Academy Post 16, which provides specialist education for 16-19 year olds with special educational needs, has received the funding boost from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme.

The money will be used on the Our Growing Basingstoke project which helps to train up young people with special educational needs and prepare them for adult life and employment by developing skills such as planning, communication, cooperative working, time management and budgeting.

Those on the project grow vegetables and fruits, then construct wooden hampers to transport the produce to young families or elderly residents who may not get the opportunity to experience fresh, home grown vegetables. The learners also design recipe cards to give ideas about dishes they can create, which will be tucked inside the hampers before distributing. Work will now begin on bringing the project to life.

Hannah Stroud, Head of Post 16 said: “We are so excited to be receiving this money. It will enable us to buy brand new safety boots and waterproof jackets for our learners so they can get outside even when the weather isn’t great.

"It will mean we can buy new seeds and plants, materials to revamp the gardens and a variety of equipment, including some to assist learners with physical disabilities.

"This will all support us to grow tasty things to give back to the local community whilst helping to generate interest and positivity amongst the youngsters, developing both their skills and confidence.”

Bags of Help is run in partnership with environmental charity Groundwork, and sees grants raised from the sale of carrier bags awarded to thousands of local community projects every year. Since launching in 2015, it’s provided more than £48 million to over 13,000 local community projects

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities.

To find out more, go to tesco.com/bagsofhelp.