THE deadline is looming for community projects across Oxfordshire to apply for a slice of thousands of pounds.

Twice a year, our parent company, Gannett, gives grants to hundreds of charities and causes across the country through the Gannett Foundation.

Groups and charities have until Wednesday to apply for the latest round of grants, which could be for up to £50,000.

Non-registered charities, individuals or schools are not eligible to apply, and priority is given to community projects of lasting benefit, which help people with special needs, and those which focus on sport, environment, conservation and local history.

Editor Derek Holmes said he was aware that even charities were feeling the pinch during the current recession — and urged eligible groups to apply.

He said: “This money goes to organisations across the UK. I’d like as much of it as possible to come to Oxfordshire.”

Since the scheme was created, dozens of organisations have been awarded money to spend on projects across the county. They range from Oxford Orinoco, a swapshop scheme, which was granted £2,360, to motoring charity Trax, which received £9,200 for a training kitchen earlier this year.

The Leonard Cheshire Home in Banbury was awarded a £6,000 grant to help fit out its new premises, while Witney-based Volunteer Link Up has also received cash from the Gannett Foundation.

Bardwell Special School in Hendon Place, Bicester, was awarded a £1,300 grant to spend on three new picnic tables with different activity tops and two environmentally friendly “friendship” benches.

The money came just after the school’s picnic benches had been stolen.

Headteacher Chris Hughes said: “We needed fairly robust ones and the grant enabled us to buy these picnic tables with different types of tops, so they could be for games, or football, and one of them also has a map on the top.”

She said: “They are very much appreciated. We have had chains put round them so we haven’t lost them to thieves like the previous ones.”

The school, which is for pupils aged two to 19 with profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism, received the grant in November 2007.

In May 2007, Oxpots, a pottery workshop for blind and partially-sighted people which meets every Friday at Wolvercote Young People’s Club, was awarded £1,467 to buy a new kiln.

Chairman Christopher Barry said: “This was one of the largest contributions we’ve ever had.” His wife, Venice Barry, who is registered blind, said:“I mostly make animals, but one lady makes the most wonderful people and one gentleman makes birds.

“We all live for Fridays when we can really get down to it because mostly we can’t do anything when we can’t see.”

The Ace Centre in Windmill Road, Headington, was awarded £5,000 to set up its Toys 2 Talk project, a scheme aimed at helping pre-school children in Oxfordshire with complex physical and educational needs.

During a year-long scheme, speech and language therapist Rachel Moore and occupational therapist Jackie Ayre worked with about 20 children aged between 11 months and four years.

Each child had assessment sessions, then a box of specially-adapted toys was put together and loaned to the youngsters for about three months.

The whole scheme cost £30,000 and it is now planned for health and education services to take on board some of the lessons we’ve learned so far.

Mrs Moore said: “It has been really positive and we have learned so much.

“We found things like an 11-month-old baby was absolutely fascinated by a computer.

“The money has made a real difference to the way we work with pre-school children.”

Application forms can be downloaded from this website.