A POOLE hospice has driven off with a £1,500 donation, thanks to a partnership with a Bournemouth car dealership.

Westover Toyota in Wallisdown Road applied for the cash from the Toyota Fund For A Better Tomorrow scheme in aid of Forest Holme Hospice.

The initiative is a nationwide programme of grants that enable Toyota dealerships to apply for funding to support charities, schools and community projects in their local area.

Westover Toyota put together the application in favour of supporting the Forest Holme Hospice Charity, which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, as well as providing support and advice to carers, family and friends.

The donation will support the charity with its life-enhancing work and will fund counselling sessions for local people following their diagnosis of cancer, as well as bereavement support sessions for families who are coming to terms with life without their loved ones.

Danny Ball, head of sales and finance at Westover Toyota, who worked to negotiate the largest possible donation, said: “At Westover Toyota we consider it important to be part of the local community and we’re delighted to have obtained funding from Toyota.

"The hospice is a very worthy recipient of support from the Toyota fund, it does fantastic work helping those with life-limiting illnesses. We look forward to seeing how the donation can help Forest Holme continue its vital, life-enhancing work in the local community.”

Kirsty Perks from Forest Holme, added: “We rely heavily on donations and fundraising in order to provide vital services to local people who need it most. Support from businesses like Westover Toyota is essential in helping Forest Holme secure the funding to be here for future patients and their families during the most difficult time of their lives.”

Launched in 2012, Toyota's Fund For A Better Tomorrow is enabling UK dealers such as Westover Toyota to support worthy causes and more than over 200 projects have received support with in excess of £350,000 donated in the last three years alone.