A South west car dealership has pledged to support care leavers in Wiltshire and Swindon alongside the Wiltshire Community Foundation.

Wiltshire Community Foundation (WCF) is partnering with Dick Lovett to aid care leavers in Wiltshire and Swindon.

The alliance aims to bolster a fledgling £3.6 million Care Leavers programme over a three-year term, spearheaded by UK Community Foundations and supported by 17 community foundations.

The initiative is heavily backed by the Local Authorities’ Mutual Investment Trust, a significant shareholder in UK's largest charity asset manager, the CCLA.

In April, WCF originally intended to receive £40,000 annually for three years from this initiative, providing a match-fund was procured.

The Lovett Foundation, Dick Lovett's charitable arm, stepped in to make a monumental difference to the project by committing £100,000 across a five-year window.

Established in 2019, The Lovett Foundation, by Dick Lovett, itself backs youths in care and young adults leaving care across the Southwest and Wales. The operation is steadfast on providing them with assistance, life skills and enriching experiences to carve a path towards a brighter future.

Keen on filling a noticeable void in charitable support for care leavers, Dick Lovett formally tied up with WCF in March.

Oliver Selfe, WCF's philanthropy director, said: "We are thrilled to have partnered up with Dick Lovett to deliver our Care Leaver’s programme.

"This is an outstanding commitment from them to agree to help fund the project for five years and will mean that the programme can have a greater and more sustained impact.

"Care leavers are unfortunately faced with numerous challenges to overcome, and it is absolutely vital that they have access to the same opportunities as their peers."

"Thanks to the support from the Lovett Foundation, as well as the funding secured from UK Community Foundations and LAMIT, we can offer care leavers greater support and more opportunities."

A representative from Dick Lovett added: "We are delighted to start our partnership with Wiltshire Community Foundation.

"It will help us to direct the money that we raise through fundraising activities to the correct places, in particular to help support young people leaving the care system.

"Together we can make sure that they get the opportunities that they deserve."

Wiltshire Community Foundation's Care Leaver Programme functions in cooperation with Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council, striving to increase mentoring and coaching opportunities for care leavers.

The initiative also aims at boosting the employment and educational prospects for care leavers.