CHARITIES across the town are battling it out to gain public votes to help them secure much-needed funding of up to £25,000.

A total of 25 organisations have put themselves in the running for the Aviva Community Fund awards, with each one hoping to call on the public's help to get shortlisted.

The Aviva Community Fund offers charities the chance to get funding for an important cause within their local community and over 500 projects in the UK will benefit from either £1,000, £5,000, £10,000 or £25,000.

In order to be shortlisted into the finals, where a judging panel will award the funds, charities must secure a different amount of votes depending on what funding bracket they are applying for.

Among the groups who are counting on the public’s support include the Friends of Crowdys Hill School, Headway Swindon, Swindon Women’s Aid, Wanborough Primary, Open Door, Hop, Skip and Jump as well as Swindon & District Samaritans.

Each charity has their own project in mind of where the funding will come into use and how it will benefit Swindonians.

Volunteer Centre Swindon hope a £10,000 grant will go towards their Helping Hands project which aims to encourage and support people into giving their time to their local community.

It could be through befriending an older person, helping at a lunch club, mentoring a young person, helping a disabled person enjoy activities or helping at an environmental project.

Sue Dunmore, CEO of Volunteer Centre Swindon said: “Our project reaches across the whole of Swindon, not just one particular area. Anyone can access our services, through undertaking volunteering, people can change their lives, gain skills and confidence or staying active whilst at the same time helping one the 300 local organisations we work with that deliver services through volunteers. So voting for us helps Swindon and its people as a whole.”

Thousands of charities across the UK have entered themselves in the Aviva Community Fund so every vote cast will help each one get nearer the shortlist.

For Scrappers Gym, who support hundreds of children and adults every year, many of whom have physical disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health problems, the chance to gain £25,000 would mean they would be able to employ a full-time boxing club manager, enabling the gym to be open during the day time.

This in turn would allow Scrappers to build stronger links with external partners local authorities, County Sports Partnerships, Schools and England Boxing to enable them to support more people.

Olivia McCann, CEO said: “Scrappers Boxing Gym brings people together supporting each other, helping people with disabilities and young people at risk of being isolated or NEET, to make new friends, develop new skills and take part in physical activity they otherwise might not be able to do. They feel less socially isolated, more confident, feel part of a group and develop a positive sense of identity.”

Another charity looking for support is the Mechanics' Institution Trust who wish to turn the old public house, The Bakers Arms, into a community cafe.

The deadline for voting closes on November 21.

To vote, visit www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/acfcms/get-involved