A new grant will soon be available for charities based in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Charles Burnett Memorial Fund, set up by the family of the late Charles Burnett from Lymington, will soon be offering grants to Hampshire and Isle of Wight charities.

Charles Burnett was known as the land-speed record holder for a steam-powered car and as a philanthropist, supporting a wide range of charitable causes.

After he died in 2018, Charles’s family established the £1million legacy fund to continue his passion for supporting animal welfare, the wellbeing of servicemen and women, the environment, medicine and science, heritage, education, community cohesion and welfare issues.

From early next year, organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will be able to apply for a minimum grant of £1,000, up to a maximum of £25,000, to support their charitable projects and services.

The grant programme is being administered by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF).

Jacqui Scott, HIWCF Chief Executive, said: “We would like to thank the family of Charles Burnett for their generosity in setting up this legacy fund with the Foundation, which is a fantastic tribute to the life and work of Charles Burnett.

“The fund provides a powerful force for change in helping to meet the needs in our communities and we urge local charities, community groups and voluntary organisations to apply for funding to support their vital local projects and services.”

In the last round of grant funding from the Charles Burnett Memorial Fund, Hythe Sea Scouts received £15,000 to provide new changing rooms, as the old rooms had become rotten and unusable.

Girls and boys can now safely get changed in the warm and dry when taking part in their water based activities.

Chris Bench, group chairman of Hythe Sea Scouts, said: “This grant came at a vital time during the pandemic, when all of our fundraising activities had stopped and it has provided a massive boost to the group and our local community.

“We pride ourselves on offering amazing opportunities to local young people and this helps us to continue doing so into the future. I would like to thank the Charles Burnett Memorial Fund for this amazing grant and also HIWCF who administer the fund.”

Applicants can find out more and apply online from the January 10 via www.hiwcf.org.uk/grants/ before the closing date of February 7.