BROADOAK Academy is celebrating after being selected by Tesco customers to receive a £5,000 donation which will be used to create an outdoor learning environment.

Customers at the express store in Worle were given the chance to take part in a lucky dip to find a specially created gold version of Tesco’s famous blue voting token.

Broadoak Academy was one of three local charities that customers could vote for to receive the £5,000 Golden Grant as part of Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme.

Mr McGilloway, Principal at Broadoak Academy, said: “This funding means we will be able to create a fully functioning and purposeful outdoor learning environment for our students.

“It will provide a much-needed alternative to the classroom and our young people will now develop skills they would otherwise not have been able to develop; gardening - planting and growing of flowers, vegetables, fruit.

“Understanding of the flora and fauna. Ecology. Nature. This funding has in essence allowed us to tap into the creative and exciting minds of our young people as they build our new outdoor learning environment.

“As a result, we will be able to build upon the well-being and positive mental health of our young people due to the space we will create together.”

Over one hundred Tesco stores across the country took part in the Golden Grants event, with £500,000 in total being donated to good causes that help children and young people.

Golden Grants are awarded twice a year as part of Tesco’s £8 million Stronger Starts grant programme, in partnership with the charity Groundwork UK.

Stronger Starts grants help 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, as well as purchasing equipment for healthy activities.

Claire De Silva, Tesco head of communities said: "We know that £5,000 can make a huge difference to a school or community project, so we are incredibly proud to have been able to award Golden Grants to over one hundred schools and local projects to support the vital work they do for our children and communities.

“Our Stronger Starts programme continues to support our local communities year-round, and we encourage all customers to get involved by using a blue token to vote for a local project they feel will benefit people in their community."

Since Tesco launched its Community Grants programme in 2016, more than £120 million has been given to more than 67,000 local schools and community groups.