Bank gives growing charity new offices.

THE relationship between a major Merseyside business and a local charity has taken an important step forward.

For the past 12 months, Sefton Community Foundation has been based in offices provided free by Alliance and Leicester at its Bootle complex in Bridle Road.

To accommodate a rapid expansion in the charity's operations, the Alliance and Leicester has provided larger offices at the same site.

Sefton Community Foundation was launched in 1999 to raise money from a variety of sources, and redistribute it to local community groups and voluntary organisations.

A big increase in the number of grant schemes managed by the charity resulted in a rise in turnover of almost 1,000pc. The Foundation's income in the 12 months to the end of the March last year went up from pounds 133,000 to pounds 1,309,000.

As a result more staff have been taken on and a further expansion of the 13-strong team is expected shortly. Foundation executive director, Dave Roberts, said: ``We are very grateful to the Alliance & Leicester for providing this larger suite of offices to accommodate the growth in the scope of our work.''

Bill Sutton, managing director of the Alliance & Leicester, said: ``We have always been keen to support the local community and our involvement with Sefton Community Foundation enables us to reach a large number of good causes.''