Charity and Community

We are committed to working with and becoming part of the communities in which we operate, and to helping staff and customers pool their resources to support causes that are close to their hearts.

  • Tesco Ireland has raised over €8.3 million for Irish charities since 2001.
  • We have invested almost €15 million in schools and clubs across Ireland through the Tesco for Schools and Clubs scheme (previously Computers for Schools and Sport for Schools and Clubs schemes). Over half of all schools in Ireland have benefited from free equipment from Tesco since 1997.

Our actions

Our customers want more than just a good shopping trip – they also want us to add value to the community. We do this by engaging with local communities on local issues and concerns.

At Tesco Ireland we are involved with local communities on several levels, including:

  • The Tesco Charity of the Year
  • The Tesco for Schools & Clubs Programme
  • Supporting local projects and initiatives at store level

Supporting local charities

"Thanks to the overwhelming support we have been shown by all of the Tesco staff and customers, our neo-natal ward will be totally redeveloped, creating a lasting legacy for the children of Ireland." - Denise Fitzgerald, CEO, The Fundraising Office, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital

Tesco Ireland has raised over €8.5 million for Irish charities since 2001.

We started Charity of the Year in 2001 and focus on charities who raise money for the elderly, people with special needs and children.

Staff at Tesco Ireland have chosen the Irish Cancer Society as their nominated Charity of the Year for 2010 and 2011. The Irish Cancer Society is the national charity for cancer care and its mission is to play a vital role in achieving world class cancer services in Ireland, to ensure fewer people get cancer and those that do have better outcomes. The Society’s goals are cancer prevention, early detection and fighting cancer with three programme areas to achieve them; advocacy, cancer services and research.

Through the partnership with Tesco Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society will bring its Care to Drive programme to a national level transporting patients to and from cancer treatment across Ireland.

How you can help:

  • Put your loose change in the collection units at our checkouts
  • Buy a trolley disc for €2
  • Recycle your mobile phone or inkjet cartridge – you can pick up a Freepost envelope at any store
  • Buy an Irish Cancer Society pin badge

Case study: Temple Street Children’s Hospital

Nearly €1.45 million was raised during the 2007 Tesco Ireland Charity of the Year Programme, which all went towards the redevelopment of the St Michael's ‘B’ Ward at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

This ward cares for neo-natal patients, premature babies, and babies and infants under 18 months. The infants may have long-term debilitating illnesses or need surgery and emergency medical care.

Staff across all our Tesco Ireland stores took part in a number of innovative fundraising initiatives on behalf of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.

Sponsorship in the community

At Tesco we are committed to supporting the local communities within which we operate. Every Little Helps isn’t just a slogan – Tesco Ireland puts it into practice by supporting local projects at a local store level. These are typically projects that benefit children, people with disabilities, the elderly and the environment.

Case study: The Workhouse Graveyard, Celbridge

Celbridge Workhouse Graveyard is one of Celbridge’s most historic areas. An estimated 1,500 to 2,500 people were buried there in unmarked graves during the Great Famine of the 1840s.

The workhouse itself has changed hands many times since the Famine and is now the Colortrend paint factory.

The local Tidy Towns Association wanted to see the building’s future reflect its history and remain in the public eye. Investment was needed to upgrade the green space adjacent to the workhouse as a memorial for those who died in the workhouse.

Tesco was delighted to sponsor the initiative. To help us we commissioned Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (town planning, urban design and landscape architecture firm) to draw up a suitable landscape plan in keeping with the environs.

The outcome was the design and landscaping of two wild flower meadows on either side of the existing yew tree rows, and a paved area in between the yew tree rows leading up to a 20-foot sculpture, a memorial commemorating the burial site. The plans also included the restoration of the original iron gate between the green area and the old workhouse.

Case study: Special Olympics

In the run up to the 2007 Special Olympics in Beijing, Tesco sponsored a ‘26 County Dash’ which involved a county flag being sent to all stores across the country.

To raise awareness of the Special Olympics, a four-day dash around all stores took place to collect each flag. This created in-store activity, as well as promoting our Special Olympics team and the work of the Special Olympics movement.

After the county flags were collected, they were sewn together with the Special Olympics flag in the centre. This was then displayed in Dundrum Shopping Centre before being brought to Beijing by the Irish Special Olympics team.
 
 

Make-A-Wish Tesco Charity of the Year 2008

Charity of the year 2007


Celbridge monument