The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales has published its annual report announcing £20.6 million had been invested in tackling disadvantage in 2009.

One of the UK's leading grant makers, the independently run Foundation supports charities that help disadvantaged people play a fuller role in the community.

During 2009, the Foundation funded over 900 small to medium sized charities tackling nationwide-wide issues through local community work.

Over 1,800 jobs and 6,900 volunteering opportunities (often leading to employment) have been supported in the last three years throughout England and Wales.

John Handley, manager, Bridge Trust Homeless Charity, Kent said: "We are a small, locally focused charity facing a harder time raising funds as demand for our services grows. The core cost funding we received from the Lloyds TSB Foundation means we can got out and help more people to escape the traumatic experience of homelessness."

Over the last five years, the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales has received over £120m from Lloyds Banking Group.

An agreement announced between the two organisations in December 2009 guarantees that the Foundation will receive an annual funding sum of £25.2 million until 2013 and thereafter a stream of funding which will allow the Foundation's work to grow and flourish into the next decade and beyond.

Linda Kelly, chief executive commented: "We're delighted that we've been able to invest so much into helping disadvantaged people across England and Wales. Last year was very difficult for many charities and with the likely cuts in public spending, we are now more than ever committed to continuing our support for charities that carry out vital work in the communities.

"Our ongoing relationship with Lloyds Banking Group means that we will be able to continue to provide consistent support to those disadvantaged in our communities in the challenging years ahead."

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