Car dealer’s drive to help the community

The Vantage Toyota Community Drive will run for six weeks and will involve the group’s three Toyota centres in Scarborough, Knaresborough and York giving away a total of £6,000 to support worthwhile causes in Yorkshire.

The scheme celebrates the launch of the new Yaris and recognises the important contributions that many community groups make to improve their local areas. It also aims to help groups that have been hit by Government spending cuts.

Community groups, clubs and deserving individuals are invited to submit a bid, describing how they will spend the money and how this will benefit their local area.

The initiative is open to all and could include anything from supporting community music groups to kitting out the local youth football team.

Once all entries have been received, a shortlist of potential finalists for each area will be compiled, with the overall winner to be decided by a public vote.

The final three winners will be announced at a special prize giving event at the Knaresborough Vantage Toyota Centre.

Vantage managing director, Mark Robinson said: “We are really excited to launch the Community Drive.

“As a local dealer group we have very close relationships with our community and as part of our on-going commitment we’re already a member of the Guild of Patrons for Harrogate’s Saint Michael’s Hospice.

“This initiative is a chance for us to give something back to help good causes and local families feeling the pinch during these difficult economic conditions.

“I am looking forward to seeing the range of different entries we will receive and who the public decides is the most deserving winner.”

To enter the competition, Vantage Toyota has created a dedicated website which can be visited at {http://www.vantage.toyota.co.uk/communitydrive, www.vantage.toyota.co.uk/communitydrive}.

Alternatively, readers can request a printed entry form and enter the competition by sending postal entries to Vantage Community Drive, Vantage Toyota, York Road, Knaresborough, HG5 0SS.

Vantage Toyota was founded in 2003 and is based in Knaresborough.

The group has six Toyota dealerships – in Colne, Preston, Blackburn, Knaresborough, York and Scarborough.

In June the dealership acquired Manchester’s only Hyundai dealership representing a significant step for the business as it diversifies into new marques and new market areas.