A Hampshire-based car dealer group has teamed up with one of its manufacturer partners to give a welcome financial boost to local good causes.

Snows Motor Group in Southampton has donated to local charities through the Toyota Community Fund. The array of community initiatives, schools, and charities selected by Snows each received a significant sum of £1,800.

Individual dealerships within the group pitched in aiding projects across southern and southwest England in the scheme's latest round of grants, covering areas from Chichester to Exeter.

These charitable acts occurred throughout the summer, fostering a strong community bond. The Hedge End branch supported Marwell Zoo's sand lizard project with £1,800.

The funds were utilised to create a pond for one of the rarest reptiles native to Britain enduring severe habitat loss. Team members rolled up their sleeves, helping construct the pond, designed to attract insects for the sand lizards to prey on.

Snows Toyota Southampton chose the Minstead Trust as an £1,800 grant recipient. The Trust, known for nurturing the potential of individuals with learning disabilities, allocated the donation to the ‘Fairytales at Furzey’ summer project at Furzey Gardens in the New Forest.

The project, an interactive story trail, leverages the timeless appeal of fairytales, the life lessons they impart, and their capacity for inspiring creativity. In Bournemouth, the dealership bestowed £1,800 to the Macmillan Caring Locally's Hospice at Home service, an initiative established just two years ago.

Likewise, Salisbury's dealership donated an identical amount to Salisbury Hospice for their Hospice at Home service. Since 2011, Toyota and its UK dealer partners have backed over 650 projects, contributing more than £1,000,000 to community causes.

These funds have played a significant role in establishing environmental gardens at local schools, promoting technical and engineering education amongst the youth, and supporting road safety programmes, proving the group’s influence goes beyond motoring.

Olivia Snow, brand marketing manager at Snows, said: ‘"The Toyota Community Fund is a brilliant initiative and we’re only too delighted to play our part in distributing grants to local good causes.

"Although the sums of money allocated may seem relatively modest, we know they are incredibly useful to our chosen charities and we always receive lovely emails and letters saying how much the support is appreciated. Further allocations of funding are shortly to be announced so watch this space!"