The British Retail Consortium published this month the first ever report into the retail industry’ charitable giving and community work.

In 2022/23 the total value of UK retailer’s charitable giving was estimated to be equivalent to £540,000,000. This includes direct donations, funds raised by their customers, the value of direct product donations, payroll giving and hours volunteered through retail community programmes.

34 retailers participated in the report, including the ‘big four’ supermarkets – Asda, Morissons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Here is a round up of their local charitable giving initiatives.

Asda
Asda’s local giving is managed by Community Champions – store colleagues who are responsible for building relationships with voluntary organisations in the neighbourhoods were Asda superstores are located.

To find their contact use the store locator, click on the shop and scroll to the bottom of the page. The email address will be something like: community_shopname@asda.co.uk

Fundraising: Champions can organise colleague fundraising events and bucket collections in Asda stores. Asda can match up to £500.

Green Token Giving: Colleagues and customers can nominate local charities. Each superstore features three
community projects by local, grassroots organisations.
The group with the most online votes receives a £500 donation with second receiving £400 and third place receiving £300. Currently closed for nominations.

Asda Foundation: The Asda Foundation supports small, grass roots organisations. All funds make awards between £400 – £1,600 and are open for application between 28th August – 3rd November .

• Empowering Local Communities: funding for a broad range of activities helping to transform communities and improve lives.
• U18: funding for organisations giving children the best start in life, tackling poverty, addressing inclusion and boosting wellbeing.
• Cost of Living: funding to help with the increased running costs group are facing as a result of the crisis.

Asda’s ESG Report – Social: https://www.asda.com/creating-change-for-better/social

Morrisons
Morrisons also have Community Champions in all their stores – who support their local community with food donations, volunteering of time, and fundraising in store. To get in touch with your Community Champion you will need to pop into your local store.

Fundraising: Morrisons colleagues can raise funds for their chosen charities, and apply for them to be match funded by the Morrisons Foundation.

Morrisons Foundation: Up to £10,000 for capital and project costs for registered charities that make a positive difference in local communities. Funding objectives include:

• Tackling poverty and social deprivation
• Enhancing community spaces, facilities and services
• Improving health and wellbeing.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Questions: foundation.enquiries@morrisonsplc.co.uk.

Morrisons sustainability strategy: https://www.morrisons-corporate.com/morrisons-sustainability/people/charity-and-community/

Tesco

Blue Token Scheme: The Tesco Stronger Starts (previously Tesco Community Grants) scheme is open to not-for-profit organisations to apply for a grant of up to £1,500 – with priority given to projects that provide food and support to young people. Every three months, three local good causes are shortlisted to go to the public vote. The project that gets the most votes across all stores in the region wins the grant amount they requested up to a maximum of £1,500. Projects in second place can win up to £1,000 and up to £500 in third place.

Footie For All Grants: There are 150 x £1,000 grants available for grassroots football clubs across the UK. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Community Champions Donations: Tesco Community Champions manage a small community donation budget that can be used for financial support for community groups (e.g., oranges for a school sports day, a box of chocolates for a raffle prize)

Tesco sustainability strategy https://www.tescoplc.com/sustainability

Sainsbury’s
Arrangements to support local charities are made at an individual store level. You can use their Store Locator to find the number for your local store’s office, or just pop in store.

Helping Everyone Eat Better Community Grant Scheme: grants to help charities, CICs, and community groups support projects that aim to help people to access food, and/or tackle the root causes to help lift people out of food poverty.

• £500 to purchase food to support your beneficiaries
• £1,500 to help fund a project you are running to support your beneficiaries.
• £1,500+ larger ‘Stardust’ grant to help fund a project that provides longer term support.

Applications are open until 25th January 2024.
Apply through Neighbourly here

Fundraising: colleagues have the opportunity to fundraise for their local good causes.  

Food Donations: Sainsbury’s have a Food Donation Programme where stores partner with local organisations operating both Front of Store (customers donations into donation points in stores) and Back of Store (donating surplus stock to local organisations) programmes.

Sainsbury’s sustainability strategy: https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/sustainability/better-for-everyone/community-and-partnerships