Gloucestershire Counselling Service (GCS) is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 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.

Gloucestershire Counselling Service is one of the groups on the shortlist.

If GCS win the award, the money will be used to buy equipment to support the counselling of young children who have been the victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Emma Griffiths, CEO at GCS said: "We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Tesco's Bags of Help initiative. As a charitable organisation offering affordable counselling across the county, we welcome any financial support for our work.

"Unfortunately we are seeing increasing numbers of children who are suffering as a result of violence and abuse - and very often these young people are from families who can least afford the professional counselling that they so urgently need."

Voting is open in all Tesco stores this month and in June, and customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop. Stroud Tesco Express stores are fully behind the campaign and are to be found in Nailsworth, Chalford and Pagan Hill and the Stroud Superstore is now also open for voting.

Tesco's Bags of Help project has already provided over £71 million to more than 23,000 projects across Britain. 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: "Bags of Help contributes funds to community projects up and down the country and we've been overwhelmed by the response from customers voting in their local stores. We're looking forward to seeing more projects brought to life."

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online.

GCS is launching its new website this month where anyone is able to self-refer for counselling, visit: www.gloscounselling.org.uk.