GRANTS from a fund which has paid out nearly £4 million in 10 years are on offer again this year.

Applications to the fund are being sought by The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of Gannett Co, Inc, owner of Newsquest Media Group, which publishes the Whitchurch Herald.

Charities in Shropshire are being urged to apply for a grant from the fund, with a deadline of Friday, October 18. The judges will meet in November to choose the winners.

A spokesman for Newsquest said: “We value practical and creative projects that bring lasting benefits to the communities and neighbourhoods served by our newspapers and online audience.

“That includes schemes for neighbourhood improvement and local problem-solving, economic development, youth development, education and cultural enrichment, care of the elderly or infirm, help for the disadvantaged or disabled, and environmental conservation.

“We particularly invite clearly reasoned applications asking for specific items of equipment or materials. Most of our applications are for relatively modest sums meeting everyday needs and that will be our special focus in 2019.

“We are also able to join with other contributors to support elements of more ambitious projects. While preference will be given to ideas which create a tangible and durable benefit, we will consider single events, performances or other projects of limited duration that otherwise meet our criteria.”

Applicants must be registered charities, and must not have received a grant from the fund within the last two years.

Grants from the fund in 2018 paid out across the UK include: £7,900 to the The Wilderness Trust, based at Old Chapel Farm, Tylwch, near Llanidloes; £5,000 to create a sensory garden at High Royds Memorial Garden in Bradford; £5,000 for kitchen equipment at a Tullibody Trust community café in Scotland; £2,800 to buy new equipment for Pembrokeshire Special Needs Gymnastics Club in Wales; £9,000 to help Aire Rivers Trust clean up a stretch of the River Aire in West Yorkshire; £5,860 for a centre for disabled children in Southampton.

Gannett Foundation UK 2019 Application Form.docx

Grant forms IDEALLY the trustees prefer grant application to be in electronic PDF format on the standard application form but paper applications can be accepted.

To find out more email news@whitchurchherald.co.uk

In every case, applications must arrive by 5pm on Friday, October 18, 2019.