Toyota Community Fund helping UK charities and schools make a difference

The Toyota Community Fund has been actively helping charities and schools across the UK, making financial donations to support a wide range of community initiatives, from riding for the disabled, to accessible parks for children with severe learning difficulties.

The fund is designed to improve the quality of life and the environment, with local causes nominated by Toyota and Lexus centres receiving grants of up to £2,000.  Since the fund was launched in 2011, more than £1.42 million has been distributed.

So far this year, more than a third of the Community Fund donations (38 per cent) have been made to civic initiatives, 28 per cent to health and medical-related services,16 per cent to environmental initiatives and the remaining 16 per cent has gone to education, arts and culture, mobility and road safety initiatives.

Causes to have benefited so far this year include: –

Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation, Leatherhead

This charity provides support to help older people, or those living with mental or physical disabilities, to regain their independence and become physically and socially active within their community, through mobility. It provides driver and passenger assessments and theory test assistance.

The Change Foundation, Croydon

Funding from the Toyota Community Fund has helped The Change Foundation to set up a slow-paced football team for people with physical or mental disabilities.

Rowan Park School, Liverpool

This specialist school supports children with severe and complex learning difficulties, Autism Spectrum Conditions and sensory impairment. A Toyota Community Fund donation has helped the school re-open its accessible park for disabled children and the local community, a space for inclusive play and the development of motor and social skills.

Little Miracles, Peterborough

Little Miracles supports families whose children have disabilities and life-limiting conditions. It has used its Toyota funding to run training programmes for volunteer assistants.

Vale Primary School, Epsom

Vale Primary School, close to Toyota’s Surrey headquarters, was concerned about dangerous driving close to its premises. The Community Fund donation was used for local safety signage and safety programmes for pupils.

Chigwell Riding School, Essex

The Toyota Community Fund donation is being used to provide lessons for children with disabilities and special needs, helping them build confidence and communication and problem-solving skills.

Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Preston

The Toyota Community Fund donation was used to create a hedgerow habitat for the endangered willow tit.  It has also supported biodiversity and protection for other wildlife species.

Scott Thompson, Toyota (GB) President and Managing Director said: “Supporting local charities and community initiatives is a vital part of the Toyota mission to ensure happiness for all and to improve and enhance the lives and environments we live in. It’s hugely rewarding to see what a difference the donations have made to such a variety of deserving causes.”

ENDS