A sensory play area could become reality for students at a Littleport school if they are chosen as the community cause to receive funding in the Tesco bags of help scheme.

The blue coin shopper voting initiative is now in place in the Ely superstore and Supporters of Highfield Littleport Academy (SOHLA) are hoping to bag a massive cash boost to create the play area for pupils to encourage improved behavioural, sensory, communication, fine and gross motor skills, whilst having fun.

The school were visited by boxing legend Frank Bruno in June as part of his work with his Frank Bruno Foundation which aims to give back to the community and to promote the health benefits of exercise for physical and mental health.

Jo Pearson, SOHLA fund raiser said: “SOHLA would like to thank Tesco for choosing our project. We are a newly formed fund raising group supporting Highfield Academy Littleport.

“The pupils, staff and volunteers are so excited to have been chosen, as without this money we cannot create this play area.

“Please support us by submitting your token in the Ely Tesco Store you will make a huge difference.”

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 raised from carrier bag sales in stores awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

Alec Brown, head of community at Tesco, said: “Bags of Help has been a fantastic success and we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from customers.

“It’s such a special scheme because it’s local people who decide how the money will be spent in their community.

“There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see these come to life in hundreds of communities.”

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s national chief executive, said: “Bags of Help continues to enable local communities up and down Britain to improve the local spaces and places that matter to them.

“The diversity of projects that are being funded shows that local communities have a passion to create something great in their area.

“We are pleased to be able to be a part of the journey and provide support and encouragement to help local communities thrive.”

• Ramp it Up 4 Highfield Littleport is the name of the project which aims to create an amazing outdoor play area enhancing the young people of Highfield Academy’s. Voting is open in September and October using a blue coin token given at the check-out.