Three good causes in Wokingham received a cash boost thanks to a Wokingham supermarket.
Community-conscious colleagues at the Finchampstead Road Tesco store recently handed out grants worth £3,000.
Pupils and staff at Oaklands Junior School received a cheque for £1,500 to help fund services provided by the school’s part-time Educational Psychotherapist and Parent Support Adviser, who supports children and families that are experiencing difficulties.
Another educational establishment to receive funding was High Close School, which was presented with £1,000 to create a sensory garden.
The third good cause was CLASP, an advocacy group for adults with learning disabilities in the Wokingham borough. It received £500 to raise awareness about its work.
Hazel West, headteacher at Oaklands Junior School, said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for this funding.
“Without the Stronger Starts scheme, we would not be able to extend the specialised support we provide for many of our children and families.
“This is a fantastic scheme, and we are very grateful to receive the funding.”
She continued: “Our Educational Psychotherapist supports children who have been affected by adverse childhood experiences such as family separation, loss or bereavement, and who may be neurodiverse, with diagnoses of autism or ADHD.
“This grant from Tesco will enable Oaklands Junior School to support more children and families with this fantastic provision.”
The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, supports many Wokingham community projects and good causes.
Wendy Gosling, acting principal at High Close School, said: “Thank you, Tesco. With this grant we are going to achieve our dream sensory garden.
“We could not do it without you.
“The funding is going to make such a difference to our students and the outdoor space they experience.
“It’s our fundamental belief that every young person – regardless of their background, previous life experience or the challenges they may have faced – should have the same opportunities as their peers, because every child matters.”
CLASP helps adults with learning disabilities with one-to-one support, and it aims to build awareness and use opportunities to address inequalities experienced by those with a learning disability.
Debs Morrison, its chief executive officer, said: “We are really pleased that this funding has given us a lovely opportunity to spread the word about CLASP and to be supported by the community. Wokingham Tesco is just wonderful.”
Wokingham shoppers can use the Stronger Starts scheme to support local groups by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.
Louise Jedras, Community Champion at the Finchampstead Road store, said: “It is a real pleasure for us to present these grants to three groups that do such fantastic work in our communities. We really appreciate their tireless efforts to improve so many people’s lives.”
For more information about Stronger Starts, log on to: https://tescostrongerstarts.org.uk
