A YATE-based housing group's project has been shortlisted for community funding award.

The initiative, launched by Merlin Housing Association last year, provides support to vulnerable customers during the winter.

And now Merlin is asking customers to vote for the project the next time they go shopping at Tesco stores in the town.

Merlin launched its Keep Warm, Keep Well last year and delivered winter care packages to 250 single, elderly customers living in priority neighbourhoods across in South Gloucestershire, including those in Yate.

Each package contained a blanket, pack of biscuits, tea, coffee, tin of soup, energy saving lightbulb, a Christmas card and advice and information about local groups and activities.

Following its success, the housing association is going to be running it again in January.

And the project has received a boost by being shortlisted for Tesco’s Bags of Help initiative. It’s one of three local projects in the running to receive funding from the sale of carrier bags at stores in the area.

Community insight and investment officer Charlotte Galling said: “We’re delighted to have bagged a chance to fully fund this worthwhile project through the Bags of Help initiative.

"We’re already guaranteed £1,000 towards the project, but we need as many people as possible to vote for us whenever they go shopping so we can help as many people as possible this winter.

“We launched this project last year to support work being carried out across the country to improve health and wellbeing among older people during the winter.

"As well as providing customers with some winter essentials, it’s also a good way for us to visit and speak with some potentially vulnerable customers, who we generally have very little contact with. Last year we were able to help customers with reporting repairs and referred some of them to the Wellbeing College.”

Voting is now open at the Tesco Extra store and the two Tesco Expresses in the town, and will continue throughout November and December.

Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already delivered over £36 million to nearly 8,000 projects up and down the UK. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.

Alec Brown, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for November and December. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see these come to life in hundreds of communities.”