YOUTH charity Xplode magazine is bidding for a cash boost from supermarket Tesco.

The supermarket has grants of up to £4,000 available, raised from carrier bag sales in stores and awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash and shoppers and, throughout March and April, are being invited to vote for who should be awarded it.

Xplode Magazine is on the shortlist. It works to get Bolton’s young people job-ready and showcase their talent through training sessions and media skills.

Saeed Atcha, chief executive at Xplode Magazine, said: “We’re really excited to be part of Tesco’s Bags of Help Initiative!

Young people go to jobs for experience and get turned down for a lack of it. Peer-to-peer-led employability training can tackle this vicious circle. We need your vote in all of the Bolton Tesco stores to help Bolton’s teens secure their futures.”

Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop.

Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already handed over £40 million to 9,700 projects up and down the UK. Tesco customers get the chance to vote for three different groups every time they shop.

Funding is available to groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefit to the community.

Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.