Posted on 9 February 2026

The League of Friends to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital is bidding for a cash boost from the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme.

Stronger Starts provides grant awards of up to £1,500 to local community projects, with a particular focus on children and young people.

Three groups in every community have been shortlisted to receive grant awards and Tesco customers can vote for the group they think should take away the top award in their local Tesco store.

The hospital Friends is one of the groups on the shortlist in Ellesmere.

The paediatric ward at RJAH is in need of toys and equipment for patients to use in the new therapeutic garden space.

Victoria Sugden, League of Friends CEO, said: “Play is such an important part of a child’s wellbeing, especially during a hospital stay.

“Support from Tesco Stronger Starts would help us provide toys and equipment for our new therapeutic garden, creating a positive outdoor space for young patients. We’d love for shoppers in Ellesmere to vote for our charity in store.”

Voting is now open in the Ellesmere Tesco store, and will run until 31st March 2026. Customers will cast their vote using a blue token given to them at the check-out each time they shop.

Tesco’s Stronger Starts – previously known as Tesco Bags of Help and Tesco Community Grants – has already provided over £127 million to more than 74,000 projects across Britain.

This £5m Stronger Starts grant programme, delivered in partnership with charity Groundwork, helps schools and children’s groups provide nutritious food and healthy activities that support young people’s physical health and mental wellbeing, such as breakfast clubs or snacks, and sports equipment for after school clubs.

Claire de Silva, Tesco UK Head of Communities and Local Media, said: “Helping schools and children’s groups access the food and resources they need is vitally important in getting children a stronger start in life. Children with enough food have more energy, better concentration, and ultimately achieve more too.”

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “As a community charity, we have seen first-hand how schools and other groups supporting young people have been playing a much bigger role in ensuring children are getting a healthy start to the day and getting access to spaces and services to support physical activity and mental health.

“Family budgets are tight and school budgets are tight, but it’s so important that children stay fed, fit and focused, so we’re delighted to be able to prioritise these activities alongside Tesco with the Stronger Starts programme.”

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities, particularly those helping to provide food and giving children the support they need for a good start in life.

Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit tescoplc.com/strongerstarts

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