CHARITIES across Oxfordshire have less than a week to apply for money from the Oxford Mail’s parent company Gannett.

Every year, the Gannett Foundation hands out thousands of pounds to charitable organisations.

Groups have until Wednesday to put in a bid for a share of the funding.

Dozens of groups have benefited from the scheme, receiving money for community projects covering everything from training projects, to new equipment, to the establishment of new schemes working with disabled children.

Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neill said: “These are tough economic times and charities and other good causes are not exempt from the downturn.

“I would urge any group or charity which fits the criteria for a grant to apply as soon as possible.

“This money goes to organisations across the UK. I would like as much of it as possible to come to Oxfordshire.”

Among those to benefit in the past was Headington charity Orinoco, which operates a swapshop for art and scrap materials and runs a paint recycling scheme.

Howie Watkins, of Orinoco, said: “The Gannett Foundation grant really helped us be more cost effective, reach more people and do more good.

“It allowed us to completely change the way we operate and up our game.”

Orinoco, based at Bullingdon Community Centre, in Peat Moors, was awarded £2,360 to spend on shelving, crates and roll cages.

Mr Watkins said: “It may sound unimportant and not very exciting, but it allowed us to expand our paint retail operation and open additional paint outlets in Berinsfield, Didcot and Oxford.

“Our turnover each year is in the region of £25,000 to £30,000, but we end each year with about £700, so things like this really help.

“Hundreds of people a month come through the store – we are so phenomenally busy, it’s unbelievable.”

The new roll cages also allowed the scheme to load up its ‘scrapmobile’ full of recyclable material to takeout to the community more quickly and efficiently than before.

Orinoco volunteer worker Jon Stacey added: “The place is just a lot safer and a lot easier and cleaner and tidier.

“We spend so much time just moving things around the site, now we actually have the containers and boxes that fit which makes a big difference. It’s a lot more efficient.”

Every year, Orinoco redistributes between 6,000 and 10,000 litres of unwanted paint, with customers asked to pay as much or as little as they can afford to.

Orinoco has nearly 1,000 members.

For full conditions of how to apply for a Gannett Foundation grant and to download an application form, go to oxfordmail.co.uk/news/ gannettfoundation l See tomorrow’s Oxford Mail for a report on other groups which have been helped by Gannett Foundation grants.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk