Projects urged to bid for share of grants (From Gazette & Herald)

Projects urged to bid for share of grants

IF you have a community project or group which is in need of funds, the Gazette & Herald might be able to help.

Half a million dollars is up for grabs, courtesy of the Gannett Foundation, an arm of the Gazette & Herald's parent company Gannett. Cash grants are available twice a year to worthy causes across the country in areas served by Newsquest, the newspaper group of which the Gazette & Herald is part.

We want to hear about the hardworking groups and vital projects in our readership area, especially those which benefit people with special needs, either through disability or disadvantage. It also gives priority to youth projects.

Two North Yorkshire charities received £4,000 each last autumn after applying to the Gazette & Herald. Whitby and District Disablement Action Group hires out and loans scooters and wheelchairs to disabled people in order to let them live as independently as possible. Their grant was used to buy two heavyweight scooters and two manual wheelchairs.

Ryedale Special Families provides support to families of children with disabilities and special needs. The charity is using the money to create a sensory garden, featuring fragrant plants, a water feature and wind chimes.

Certain restrictions apply to entrants, however, and the following groups are not eligible:

Individuals of organisations that are not registered charities; national or regional organisations, unless the project addresses specific local community needs; uniformed youth groups, including scouts and guides; as part contributions to a full or part-time salary, or to running costs; for church restoration or maintenance, or for religious causes; endowment funds, general appeals, general contribution to costs or multi-year campaigns; medical or research organisations;

animal charities.

Grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded but larger sums could be available for exceptional projects.

For an application form and criteria details please contact Pam Thomson at the Gazette & Herald's head office at 76-86 Walmgate, York, Y01 9YN, call her on (01904) 567145 or email gazette@ycp.co.uk.

The deadline for completed applications is Tuesday April 18 and awards will be made in late May.

Updated: 16:45 Wednesday, March 15, 2006