COMMUNITY groups being given the chance to get a grant of up to £50,000 from the owners of the firm that publishes your Worcester News.

Grants are being made available from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc, owner of Newsquest Media Group, which is one of the UK's largest publishers.

The foundation supports projects that take a creative approach to helping people in the community.

The Foundation gives priority to:

  • Projects of lasting benefit such as a specially adapted mini buses for elderly people or people with disabilities.
  • Projects that benefit people with special needs either through disability or disadvantage.
  • Sport, environment, conservation and local history projects.

Previous winners have included the Bridge Counselling Service, based in the Angel Centre, Angel Place, Worcester, Perdiswell Skate Park, the Snoezelen Project, and Arcos in Malvern.

Applications should include specific information on what the money will be spent on and how many people it will benefit.

Grants will not be given to:

  • Individuals.
  • Organisations which are not registered charities.
  • National or regional organisations unless the project addresses specific local community needs.
  • Political, religious or uniformed groups.
  • Salaries, training costs, publicity funding, or general running costs.
  • Endowment funds.
  • General appeals, general contribution to costs or multi-year campaigns.
  • Medical or research organisations.
  • Animal charities.
  • School groups, excluding special needs schools.

The application form and a copy of the Gannett Foundation guidelines can be obtained from Roni Skye, Worcester News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX.
Email roni.skye @midlands.newsquest.co.uk or call 01905 742265.

Forms must be returned to the same address by Thursday, March 20.

All donations are strictly at the discretion of the fund and winners will be expected to take part in publicity, while some cases might be asked to have the Gannett Foundation logo displayed on major items of equipment such as minibuses.