Tesco announces major charity partnership with Diabetes UK

Tesco has announced a major new charity partnership with Diabetes UK aimed at helping create a healthier future for people affected by diabetes or at risk of developing it.

The partnership, launched as the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK reached three million for the first time, will see Tesco, its customers, staff and suppliers aim to raise £10 million, the biggest donation ever pledged to the charity.

Part of this funding will be spent on pioneering research into a vaccine for Type 1 diabetes – the type not linked to lifestyle or weight – that offers real hope for thousands of children and adults across the globe for a future without this type of the condition.

The partnership will also fund the biggest ever public awareness campaign on Type 2 diabetes risk factors, aiming to reach the estimated seven million people at high risk from the condition.

Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said: "I am delighted Tesco has made Diabetes UK its National Charity Partner, as this will make a real difference in curbing the rise in the condition by funding the biggest ever public health campaign on risk factors and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes.

"It is also great news that the money raised by the fantastic fundraising efforts of its customers, staff and employees will pay for a series of Living with Diabetes Days that will give people with Type 2 diabetes the information they need to manage the condition. Crucially, research into a future without Type 1 diabetes is at an extremely exciting point and so there is a real chance that the millions of pounds of new research the partnership will fund could make the breakthrough that leads to a future without this type of the condition, a lasting legacy for the partnership and for children and adults worldwide".

Rebecca Shelley (left), Group Corporate Affairs Director at Tesco, said: "Diabetes affects millions of families and communities across the UK and as today's news confirms, the number of people with this condition is increasing.

"Thanks to this important partnership, we have the opportunity to inspire our colleagues and customers to come together, raise awareness and much needed funds to help the millions of people with diabetes in the UK. From helping our customers take action to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes through our network of pharmacies, to investing in groundbreaking research, we'll be using our scale to support everyone affected by, and at risk of diabetes".

Funds raised by the partnership will help fund the following initiatives:

  •   Pioneering research into a vaccine for Type 1 diabetes, offering real hope for thousands of children and adults across the globe for a future without this type of the condition.

  •   The partnership will also fund the biggest ever public awareness campaign on Type 2 diabetes risk factors aiming to reach the estimated seven million people at high risk.

  •   Through risk assessments available to customers in our pharmacies, we will help to identify some of the 850,000 people who have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

  •   The partnership aims to provide information and advice to almost a million people with Type 2 diabetes and will also fund a series of "Living with Diabetes" days around the UK that will help people newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes understand how to best manage their condition.

To find out if you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes, go to www.diabetes.org.uk/ or visit a Tesco Pharmacy for a free five minute assessment: see www.tesco.com/storelocator or call 0800 505 555.