Shoppers vote East End groups early Christmas gift from new Tesco store

Three community groups in London’s deprived East End are each £1,000 richer after supermarket shoppers voted for their favourite causes at Tesco’s new Bow store in the Roman Road.

They were chosen as the store’s Helping Hands project where the supermarket’s customers decided on their favourite local causes from a shortlist of six at the weekend.

The competition was fierce, with the groups neck and neck for much of the four week voting period.

But the eventual winners were Second East London Scouts Group, Ability Bow therapy gymnasium and Stepney City Farm.

Store manager Thomas Andrews said: “Shoppers have been approaching me to tell me how hard it was deciding who to vote for.”

The runners-up who each get £200 were Lower Regents Canal Coalition, Ragged Museum and Arbour youth centre.

The new store teamed up with the East London Advertiser for the project to help East End community groups and charities.