A Toyota fund to help vital community causes selected by Lexus and Toyota dealerships has now handed out more than £1 million.

Since its launch in 2011, the Toyota Fund for a Better Tomorrow has helped  deserving causes, from zoos and fire stations, to safe driving courses and cancer care.

Its latest beneficiaries are the charities Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering plus the Momentum Children's Charity in South West London, Surrey and Sussex.

The Momentum Children’s Charity will use the Toyota funds to purchase musical instruments for children at home and in hospital.

It supports families whose children are facing cancer or other life-challenging conditions by offering practical and emotional help, and therapy services including music, play and art.

The Toyota donation to Age UK, recommended by Lexus Woodford, will help fund online workshops to help people who are unable to get out and about to enjoy activities such as drawing and painting at home.

The aim is to encourage interaction and combat loneliness – a major concern during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is a great achievement for the fund to reach £1 million in donations and that it has done so with such well-deserving projects. We take great pride in our responsibility and commitment to support these community-based activities and it is hugely rewarding to see the difference we can help make," said Chris Hayes, director of people and planning for Toyota GB.

The Toyota Fund for a Better Tomorrow aims to help improve the quality of life and the environment in communities across the UK. Toyota and Lexus centres are able to support charities, schools and community projects in their area with grants of up to £2,000.

Projects are selected and assessed on criteria including their benefit to the community and visibility.

Almost a third (31 per cent) of the funds allocated so far have been to health and human services (charities that deal with health or medical issues), 36 per cent to civic and community initiatives and 20 per cent to environmental projects.