Generous shoppers across Windsor and Slough bagged £4,000 to enable a charity to help injured and sick veterans into work

Customers gave their backing to The Poppy Factory by voting for the charity in the Bags of Help scheme held at the Tesco Superstore in Dedworth Road, Windsor and the Tesco Express stores in Datchet, Langley, Windsor and Slough.

Tesco teamed up with the Groundwork charity to launch the community funding project raising money from carrier bag sales.

The funding will enable The Poppy Factory, which received the Healthcare and Rehabilitation Award at the Soldiering On Awards on April 5, to reach more veterans in the area.

The Poppy Factory is a factory in Richmond, London, England, where remembrance poppies are made. It was founded in 1922 to offer employment opportunities to wounded soldiers returning from the First World War and the charity has flourished ever since.

Each year it supports around 300 ex-Forces men and women with physical or mental health conditions back into meaningful and sustained employment.

Deirdre Mills, Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory, said: “We are so grateful to everyone in and around Windsor who showed their support for our wounded, injured and sick veterans by using their tokens to vote for The Poppy Factory in the Bags of Help scheme.

“This important funding will go directly to our employability programme, helping us support many more ex-Forces men and women who want to flourish in new jobs and careers, no matter what health conditions and other barriers they may face.”

Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already delivered over £63 million to more than 20,000 projects across Britain. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different good causes every time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions are awarded funding.

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.