St John’s bags £2000 from Tesco’s community grant scheme for its Mining Mosaic Project

We are delighted to announce that we have bagged £2000 from Tesco’s Bags of Help community grant scheme!

Millions of shoppers have voted in Tesco stores up and down the country and it can now be revealed Clowne Parish Church PCC has been awarded £2000.

Work will now begin on bringing the project to life.

Clowne Miners Chapel has not been used for many years. Most residents of Clowne have a connection with mining in their families and we want to involve as many local people as possible in the refurbishment of the space to make it a fitting memorial to those who worked in local collieries and who lost their lives in disasters.

We will engage a local artist to work with different community groups to design and make a mosaic celebrating our mining heritage, to be an attractive new frontal for the altar. Once completed we will run a weekend of events (21st-22nd June 2019) to celebrate the creation of the mosaic and refurbishment of the chapel including an exhibition and brass band concert.

We will work with local people who have connections to the mining industry including our local schools, Clowne Local History Society and Clowne Parish Council.

Rector, Rev’d Bryony Taylor said:

“We want to return the chapel to the community so that it is a space that provides a welcome, celebrates our mining heritage and offers the opportunity for prayer and reflection.”

Voting ran in stores throughout January and February with customers choosing which local project they would like to get the top award using a token given to them at the checkout.

Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups each time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions are awarded funding.

Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, said: “Bags of Help contributes funds to community projects up and down the country and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers voting in their local stores. We’re looking forward to seeing more projects brought to life.”

Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said: “Bags of Help continues to enable local communities up and down Britain to improve the local spaces and places that matter to them. The diversity of projects that are being funded shows that local communities have a passion to create something great in their area. We are pleased to be able to be a part of the journey and provide support and encouragement to help local communities thrive.”

In addition, to mark Tesco’s 100th year, they have announced two special voting rounds, Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grants, in summer and winter 2019 with larger grant amounts available over wider geographic regions. Please look online for more information on if they can support your group either through the normal Bags of Help vote or Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grants.

Bags of Help is run in partnership with environmental charity Groundwork, and sees grants awarded to thousands of local community projects every year. Since launching in 2015, it’s provided more than £71 million to over 23,000 local community projects.

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.

Ends

Issued by Parochial Church Council of St John the Baptist, Church, Clowne

For further information please contact:

Rev’d Bryony Taylor on 01246 813569

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• So far Bags of Help has awarded over £71 million to more than 23,000 local community projects.
• For more information please visit: tesco.com/bagsofhelp.
• Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grants celebrates 100 years of great value for customers and communities by allowing customers to nominate and vote for community projects to receive funding grants of £25,000, £15,000 or £10,000. It will run in July/August and November/December. For any questions on Tesco Bags of Help Centenary Grants please call the Tesco press office on 01707 918 701.