A corporate community giving scheme launched in Dorset has received government match funding to the value of £1 for every £2 a business donates.

Dorset Community Foundation launched its 'Corporate Community Giving Scheme' last week to make it easier for companies to support small local charities, whilst giving them recognition for making a difference to their community.

There is an option for endowment donations to be match funded from the already-running Communities First foundation. The allocation for Dorset for Communities First is just over £231,000.

Minister for civil society Nick Hurd attended the launch, promising that for every £2 a business puts in, the government will put in £1.

"Dorset Community Foundation's new Corporate Community Giving Scheme will make it easier for companies to support small-scale local charities,” said Hurd.

“Businesses tell me that they want to get involved in their communities because their employees like it, their customers like it and they want to feel proud about where they live.”

Dorset Community Foundation provides donor advisory and grantmaking services for companies, private individuals, charitable trusts and statutory bodies. Through this scheme, companies are given intensive support to build a unique offer to the local community.

During the past year the Foundation distributed £661,000 to 185 local charities, benefitting 77,000 people across Dorset.