CHARITABLE groups are being urged to apply for grants worth thousands of pounds from the charitable arm of Newsquest, which publishes the Swindon Advertiser, Gazette & Herald and Wiltshire Times.

The Gannett Foundation is keen to back charitable not-for-profit groups in the town with grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 and is now accepting applications.

Past recipients of grants in Swindon include the Twigs group - Therapeutic Work in Gardening - which received £3,000 in 2010, and

The foundation supports registered charities running projects that take a creative approach to issues such as education and neighbourhood improvements, economic development, youth work, local problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged or disabled people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.

It values projects that bring lasting benefits to communities. While preference may be given to ideas which create a durable legacy, it will consider projects of limited duration.

Twigs – Therapeutic Work in Gardening – was awarded £3,000 from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Swindon Advertiser’s parent company Gannett, in 2010, and in 2013, Swindon Women's Aid was given £3,700 to build a children’s play area at its refuge for youngsters to enjoy.

Last year, a £5,554 grant went to the Wroughton-based Prospect Hospice which went towards buying a new hoist to help staff move patients with mobility issues.

All applicants must be registered charities and the foundation will not consider any that have received a grant from it in the past two years.

Grants will also not be given to fund salaries and running costs, appeals as opposed to specific projects, or to promote political or religious groups.

Projects must also bring benefits to the community, schools or hospitals and each nomination will be judged on its merits by trustees of the foundation, whose decision is final.

Applications must use the approved application form, which can be downloaded here

The completed form and supporting document should be sent via email to phoward@swindonadvertiser.co.uk by 5pm on Friday, October 9, while paper submissions must be sent to the Editor, Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE by the same date.