THE Gazette & Herald is on the lookout for special projects to support with cash donations as we once again team up with our parent company’s Gannett Foundation.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc, owner of Newsquest Media Group, which publishes regional and local newspapers, websites and magazines across the UK, including the Gazette & Herald.

The Gannett Foundation provides funding to support projects and organisations in areas where Newsquest operates.

The funds are managed by the Quartet Community Foundation and, in the last 10 years alone, the Gannett Foundation has made grants in the UK alone totalling nearly £4m.

Previous winners have included Acorn Community Care, in Norton, which received a grant of £7,200 for a walk-in cold room for a farm shop, while Lastingham Village Hall was given £480 for a screen and projector.

The Gannett Foundation values practical and creative projects that bring lasting benefits to the communities and neighbourhoods served by our newspapers and online audience.

That includes schemes for neighbourhood improvement and problem-solving, economic development, youth development, education and cultural enrichment, care of the elderly or infirm, help for the disadvantaged or disabled, and environmental conservation.

We particularly invite clearly reasoned applications asking for specific items of equipment or materials.

Most of our applications are for relatively modest sums meeting everyday needs, but we will consider worthwhile projects on a bigger scale.

And we are also able to join with other contributors to support elements of more ambitious projects.

While preference will be given to ideas which create a durable legacy for the community, we will consider single events or projects of limited duration that otherwise meet our criteria.

Restrictions are in place, however, and they include:

  • Applicants must be registered charities
  • Applicants must not have received a grant from us within the last two years
  • We will not fund:

- salaries, professional fees or day-to-day running or maintenance costs

- general appeals as opposed to

specific projects;

- projects that do not bring benefits to our local communities;

- political or religious objectives;

- state or privately run schools (other than special needs) or hospitals (other than hospices).

We will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility.

You must supply copies of your most recent accounts (where required by the Charities Commission) or other appropriate financial information, together with any supporting materials and details of your organisation’s managing committee.

The grants will be monitored by our editor, and it will be a condition of each grant that the recipient must report back on its use to the chairman of the Trustees within 12 months of the award.

Applications must be submitted on the approved application form, which can be downloaded at yorkpress.co.uk/gannett

The completed form and supporting document should be sent via email to nadia.jefferson-brown@nqyne.co.uk

Submissions on paper are not encouraged.

If unavoidable, they can be sent to Nadia Jefferson-Brown, Gazette & Herald, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.

The closing date for nominations is Monday, October 9, 2017.