Glossop children's charity receives £500 grant to help during lockdown

Earlier this month, Tesco’s CEO Dave Lewis outlined the retailer’s plans to provide nationwide support for local groups, including £25million in food donations and a Bags of Help Covid-19 Community Fund, to support as many groups as possible with grants of £500.

Making full use of the grant, Glossop-based charity Reuben's Retreat, has put the extra funding towards providing counselling and ‘Happiness Box’ deliveries, containing food, essential items, books and activities to keep children occupied in lockdown.

The charity, which supports 143 families with vulnerable children in the local area, has said it is “incredibly fortunate to have great relationships with local Tesco stores”.

Lindsay Smith, community fundraiser at Reuben’s Retreat said: “Reuben’s Retreat is a charity set up in memory of a beautiful little boy, Reuben Michael Graham who tragically passed away aged 23 months from a very rare and aggressive brain tumour.

“We provide emotional and practical support to parents and siblings bereaved of a child as well as children that have a life limited or life threatening illness or condition. We create a bespoke programme tailored to suit their needs, such as one-to-one counselling, peer-led support groups, activity days, memory-making days, holistic therapy and respite breaks away.

“The lockdown has had a massive effect on not only the care we deliver, but also on the mental wellbeing of the families we support. Their anxiety and stress will be through the roof at this time, and for many of them, their concern for their child has intensified. Parents who have been bereaved of a child are familiar with feeling loss and will be feeling just as upset with the situation, so periods like these can often bring back those strong, painful emotions.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have great relationships with our local Tesco stores, such as the ones in Stalybridge and Glossop, with the grant enabling us to continue our support for the 143 beneficiary families who need us. We’ve also delivered virtual one to one counselling, telephone support, virtual activities, support groups and ‘Happiness Box’ deliveries.

“With the money Tesco has given us, we have been able to deliver items to individual homes, giving these families back that outside-world contact that is vital during this time - so we cannot thank Tesco enough.”

Any local groups that would benefit from this funding are encouraged to apply at www.tescobagsofhelp.org.uk.

David Ford, local communicatons manager, said: “We’re doing everything we can to provide food for all at this difficult time and hopefully the £500 Bags of Help grant will help those groups still committed to helping others during this uncertain time.”