Charities and community groups in the Swindon and the south west are invited to apply for a share of £45,000 funding.

Sovereign Housing Association, working with not-for-profit digital fundraising platform The Good Exchange, has grants available for projects that focus on community cohesion and growth within three miles of its homes.

In Sovereign’s last round of community funding All Yours Period Boxes – which has operations in Swindon – received support worth £1,759.

This money was put towards making and distributing period boxes to people in the area who cannot afford or access sanitary products.

Caroline Herman from All Yours Period Boxes, said: “The grant from Sovereign came just at the right time and was a lifeline when we headed into the summer holidays.

“We have been supporting many families whose children are not able to access period products through school over the summer break but whose period has not taken a break with them.”

Community development officer at Sovereign Rachel Peters said: “It’s been wonderful to be able to support so many projects and it’s great that we can continue to support groups in the next round of funding.”