The Dispossessed: Lord Saatchi joins the list of big donors

Lord Saatchi today became the latest high-profile Londoner to back the Dispossessed fund with a major contribution.

On Friday the fund passed the £500,000 mark, and is now well on the way to hitting its target of £1 million which will be matched by the Government.

Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, today hailed the fund as a major step forward in fighting poverty. His department is matching every donation.

"This excellent campaign has touched a chord with Londoners," Mr Hurd said. "We will match donations because we want to encourage people to feel a sense of social responsibility and give. The Big Society is about everyone having a chance to make a difference."

Legal fim Norton Rose also today joined the list of London's biggest firms giving to the fund.

"Following the recent move of our London office to near Tower Bridge, we at Norton Rose have continued with our policy of working with and in our local community," said partner Simon FT Cox.

"Like the Evening Standard fund for the dispossessed, within our local community in Southwark we are working with a number of local projects, particularly some excellent ones focusing on sporting opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged children, both through direct funding and through volunteering activity by our staff."