CHARITIES have the chance to hit the headlines by applying for grants through the Bury Times, Radcliffe Times, and Prestwich and Whitefield Guide.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, the parent company of Newsquest Media Group, which is one of the UK’s largest publishers and owners of the three local weekly papers.

We are looking for projects that bring lasting benefits to the community. We entertain applications of any size or ambition. Typically, our grants are modest sums for practical projects, but we frequently award sums of £10,000 or more to larger projects which deserve our backing.

An application may be for neighbourhood improvement, youth enterprise or to help the disabled. The foundation will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility. Only registered charities can apply and must submit copies of the most recent financial accounts.

Any supporting materials and further details about the charity should be included with each submission. Each nomination will be judged by trustees, whose decision is final.

Over the years, many organisations and groups throughout Bury have benefited from Gannett Foundation grants which have totalled thousands of pounds. These have included Bury Pipeline, the talking newspaper for the blind, as well as Re>Build.

The latest recipient was the Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People which in January of this year was presented with a Gannett grant of £12,000 by the editor of the Bury Times, Mike Crutchley. The money has helped the society develop a sensory garden at its base in Tenterden Street.

In fact, 12 years earlier the same organisation became the first in Bury to secure a Gannett grant when it received a sum of £1,800.

Download the form here GANNETT FOUNDATION APPLICATION FORM 2015.docx

*Applications for the latest grants must be submitted on the official entry form available by writing to: The Editor's Secretary, Gannett Grants, Bolton Evening News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1DE. More details are available on 01204 537345.