A TEAM of local businesses have pledged their continued support to three Trowbridge-based community projects and called on other companies to join them.

A group including Nutricia, The Consortium, apetito and Glennie McIntosh, formed the Wessex Community Leadership Impact Team in a bid to ensure businesses help good causes in a variety of different ways, such as donation of resources, voluntary work and fundraising.

Last month representatives from the companies involved visited the VINE for PAT initiative in Fore Street, which helps pregnant, homeless and abused teenagers, to take a look at the difference their efforts are making.

As well as the VINE for PAT project, where businesses involved with the leadership impact team have carried out tasks including decorating rooms, the Amber Foundation and Stepping Stones have also been supported by the scheme.

The Amber Foundation helps unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 30 develop skills and confidence so they can find employment, while Stepping Stones provides a safe and stimulating environment where children with special needs can learn through play and therapy.

Gareth Jones, director of Glennie McIntosh, said: "It's all about getting businesses to do something with the community, and show that they can help in lots of creative ways.

"They can help by giving a few hours of their work time to take on different tasks, or even if businesses are doing things like throwing away old tables and chairs, they could think about community groups that might make use for them."

Nutricia, which produces baby foods and specialist clinical nutrition, is sponsoring the impact leadership team, run under the Prince's Trust Business in the Community initiative, and the company is keen to point out the benefits helping good causes have for both employers and employees.

Helen Messenger, Nutricia's head of PR, said: "There are so many benefits for companies and employers in getting involved, with everything from teamwork to motivation.

"We are looking to grow the scheme and looking for more businesses to get involved and provide support to see it get bigger and bigger."

Pat Penny, director of VINE for PAT, said the support provided for her group had been invaluable.

She said: "Because we are a community charity, we rely on a lot of help.

"The support from the community impact team is making such a big difference."