Boris Johnson will tonight name respected City businessman Sir Trevor Chinn as the head of his Mayor's Fund for London.

The former RAC chairman will help him set up and run the multi-millionpound charitable trust which will give money to some of the poorest Londoners.

His involvement will be a boost for Mr Johnson who needs to convince wealthy London figures to help raise cash for the Fund. The Mayor hopes it will provide additional income for groups that keep young people off the streets.

Sir Trevor, 72, who was knighted by the Tories in 1990 for charitable services, was inspired to get involved by a special investigation by the Standard in the mid-Nineties into the East End.

The acclaimed series, titled The Betrayed, touched on housing, education and employment. It stirred the conscience of all Londoners and provided a catalyst for the area's regeneration.

Mr Johnson will reveal his new aide at his first annual State of London debate tonight in Westminster. Sir Trevor, a senior adviser to global private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, will be helped by trustees including retired Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp and charity fundraiser Wasfi Kani.

It is not known if Sir Trevor will draw a salary for the role but it seems unlikely.

• 

  Supersize superport: London Gateway

  London Gateway, the £1.5bn container port under construction on the Thames at Thurrock, will have capacity to unload six of the world's largest ships at one time and have as much impact on the capital as a new airport or half a dozen Westfield shopping centres

  ---

• 

  One stylish affair: Matthew Williamson

  With London Fashion Week kicking off on Friday, British designer Matthew Williamson tells Rosamund Urwin about breaking up with his ex, post-show partying and his new model man

  ---