A NEW wave of grants for local good causes has been made available by our parent company – Gannett.

The Gannett Foundation is offering awards to charities in the county.

It is looking for good causes that take a creative approach to community issues and benefit a large number of people. Priority given to schemes which have a lasting effect, help people with special needs, or involve sport, the environment, conservation and local history.

Gannett gives out about £250,000 to official charities in the UK every six months.

Editor Derek Holmes said: “I would urge people to have a close look at the criteria and if they think they are eligible please do come forward.”

In May, more than £20,000 was dished out to three Oxfordshire charities. Mental health organisation Restore was given £15,000 towards the purchase of a new minibus for its site in Didcot.

The Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, at Milton Park, picked up a Gannett Foundation grant for £2,632, which was used to install an automatic door.

And Age Concern Oxfordshire was awarded £3,800 to develop drop-in services at its centre in White Lion Walk, Banbury. The money was used to create new rooms for older people to talk to staff in confidence.

Charity spokesman Sophie Merrill said: “These improvements enhanced the services we can provide to older people by allowing us to create a more flexible environment and provide a private room for clients seeking advice.”

Entry forms can be downloaded from this website by clicking the link below and must be returned to The Editors, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EJ by Tuesday, October 27.