PEOPLE experiencing homelessness in Cornwall will receive widespread support after community-conscious Tesco colleagues handed out grants worth £7,000.

St Petrocs, which works to end homelessness across the county, was able to celebrate after receiving cheques for £1,500 from stores in Newquay, Penzance, Camborne and St Ives, as well as £1,000 from their Falmouth store.

All the funding came from Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the charity Groundwork, and will go towards food and basic essentials for people experiencing homelessness in the county, giving them a chance to rebuild their lives.

Colum Taylor, engagement officer at St Petrocs, said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for this vital funding. It will make a big difference to many people’s lives.

“We provide services across the whole of Cornwall to support people experiencing homelessness. These include outreach and prevention services, resettlement services, emergency accommodation, and supported accommodation for 166 people.

“Our two resource centres provide access to advice and support, hot food, sleeping bags, counselling services, and medical services.

“Our aim is to empower the people we support out of homelessness for good, through the support and wraparound services we provide in our 24 houses.

“Unfortunately, as the cost-of-living crisis continues, we are witnessing an increased demand for our services – we are currently working with more people than ever before.”

According to St Petrocs’ 2024 Impact Report, the charity ended homelessness for 537 people, who now have a home. The charity’s wraparound support enabled 346 people to live in a St Petrocs house, with its employment and skills programme providing support to 146 people.

Cornwall shoppers can support local good causes by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.