CHARITIES have just one week left to apply for thousands of pounds in grants from the Oxford Mail’s parent company Gannett.

The Gannett Foundation is looking for good causes in the county that could benefit from a grant of up to £5,000.

Big projects may be given even more money.

Across the UK, Gannett gives out £250,000 to good causes every six months, and the next deadline for applications is Tuesday, October 27.

In May, Oxfordshire charities shared more than £20,000 from the foundation.

Mental health charity Restore was given £15,000 to buy a new minibus for its centre at Fleet Meadow, Didcot, where workers grow organic vegetables and practise wood and ceramic craftwork.

Project manager Olivier Guillot said: “Because we’re based in south Oxfordshire, we need a minibus to bring people from the surrounding villages to visit our project here.

“It was a very precious thing to have and to be able to afford a new one.

“We had more and more trouble with our old minibus. It was always having to go the garage and was really disrupting the service.

“If we had been left without a minibus, we would have been in trouble, so it was a great help.”

He added: “If other charities have a good project that needs money, then they should definitely look into applying.

“This money is invaluable and can do a lot in the local community.”

In May, the foundation also gave £3,800 to Age Concern Oxfordshire to create new interview rooms at its offices in White Lion Walk, Banbury, and provided the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre at Milton Park with £2,632 for a new automatic door to improve access for less mobile clients.

Now the foundation wants more Oxfordshire charities to apply for the next wave of grants.

It is looking for projects which take a creative approach to tackling problems in the area.

Eligible charities could include education projects, youth work, environmental bodies or cultural organisations.

All the charities have to do is tell the foundation how they would use the money, and what benefit it would bring to local people.

Oxford Mail deputy editor Sara Taylor said: “In these tough times, lots of charities could really benefit from these grants, so I would urge them to look to see if they are eligible.

“It would be great to bring some of this money back to Oxfordshire again.”

lsloan@oxfordmail.co.uk

How to apply

Application forms and full guidelines are available online at oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/ gannettfoundation Completed forms should be sent to Sara Taylor, Deputy Editor, Oxford Mail, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ, by Tuesday, October 27.

Please note that Gannett Foundation grants will not be given to:

Individuals

Organisations that are not registered charities

National or regional organisations, unless the project addresses specific local community needs

Political, religious or uniformed groups

Salaries, training, publicity or general running costs

General appeals or multi-year campaigns

Medical or research organisations

Animal charities

School groups (excluding special needs schools)