Jaguar Land Rover has launched its own Foundation to “empower children and young people to reach their full potential”.

The car firm is pledging “millions in funding each year” to JLR Foundation, which it has set up to support charities that benefit children and young people, with a particular focus on improving the lives of those in disadvantaged communities.

During the first year it is being backed by £2.5m in funding from the firm.

The move has been taken as part of the firm’s ‘reimagine strategy’ which commits it to setting environmental and community benchmarks.

The Foundation will officially launch later this year and is to be led by Laura Brown, who was previously chief executive of PEAS, a charity focused on improving access to education in Africa. She takes up her post as JLR Foundation director next month.

Andrea Debbane, JLR chief sustainability officer and a trustee of the foundation, said: “Today’s young minds are tomorrow’s engineers, designers and innovators. And they are the leaders and creators of our future society.

“We want to help unlock aspiration and potential in all children and young people, many of whom miss out because they don’t know opportunities exist, or they don’t have the self belief or means to try.

“By removing barriers and providing access to the right skills, knowledge and opportunities, they can all play their part in building an exceptional and sustainable future.

Other trustees of the Foundation are JLR chief of staff Chris Thorp, global director of HR Phobe Leet and Tata Consulting Services head of sustainability Latin America François Dossa. Additional JLR and independent trustees are to be appointed over time.

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