The charity-support organisation Community Action Hampshire is creating a foundation to assist in its work.

The community foundation will elicit donations from companies and individuals to redistribute the money to local organisations helping the disadvantaged.

Hampshire has been one of the remaining few areas in the UK not supported by a local foundation. All this is about to change with the recent company registration of a new foundation, subsequent appointment of trustees/directors of the Board and eventual charitable registration.

The foundation will build a permanent endowment fund. Local groups that are tackling disadvantage will benefit from grants made from the investment income, and from other funds managed by the community foundation. The monies generated from donors across the south will only be used to support voluntary and community activity within this geographical area.

County council leader, Ken Thornber, said: "We support the creation of a Community Foundation for Hampshire covering the whole of the county and the Isle of Wight and we will continue discussions with Community Action Hampshire and the Community Foundation Network as to the nature of support the County Council can offer"