Balloons charity awarded £3,000 by Tesco's Strong Starts

The Exeter-based charity Balloons has been given two grants of £1,500 which will be used to buy books, journals, arts and craft materials, as well as games and other resources, to deliver grief support sessions and send out care packages to bereaved children and young people.

Nicola Clarke, CEO at Balloons, said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for these grants.

"They will make a big difference to many local children who have experienced the loss of someone significant in their lives.

"Research indicates that the death of a significant loved one is a critical, traumatic moment for children and young people.

"If unsupported, they have poorer health and educational outcomes, are more likely to enter the criminal justice system and are more prone to a range of psychological disturbances.

"We help them with issues such as managing anxiety and anger, building self-esteem, managing sleep disturbance.

"This support also mitigates against these negative health, educational and social outcomes, and we help the children and young people to better understand and manage their grief, which in turn means that they can continue to engage with and enjoy their education."

Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme aims to help charities and community organisations that make a vital and positive impact on the lives of children and young people. It plans to work with the Groundwork charity to back additional Exmouth community projects and good causes in future.

Claire De Silva, head of community at Tesco, said: "We’re delighted that we can help groups and clubs like Balloons.

"Stronger Starts invites our customers to use their blue tokens to vote for local schemes they feel will benefit children and young people, and it’s so good to see the impact that the funding makes."

For further details about Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme and Balloons charity, visit tescostrongerstarts.org.uk and www.balloonscharity.co.uk/ respectively.