CHARITIES can apply for grants from the parent company of The Guide.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, which owns Bury Times and The Guide publisher, Newsquest Media Group.

In the last 10 years, the foundation has made grants in the UK totalling nearly £4 million. Many charities across the borough have benefited from the grants, such as Bury Blind Society, which was awarded £12,000 in 2015 to help create a sensory garden at its base in Tenterden Street.

Projects should be practical and creative and bring lasting benefits to communities and neighbourhoods. They should demonstrate good planning and financial responsibility. Examples include youth development schemes, education and cultural enrichment and environmental conservation.

The Gannett Foundation particularly welcomes requests for specific items of equipment or materials.

Applications are usually for amounts under £10,000 but bigger scale projects will be considered. The Foundation is also able to join with other contributors to support more ambitious projects.

A spokesman said: “While preference will be given to ideas which create a durable legacy for the community, we will consider projects of limited duration that otherwise meet our criteria.”

The closing date for applications is October 9 and they must be submitted on the approved application form, which can be downloaded here GANNETT FOUNDATION APPLICATION FORM 2017.docx and sent via email to lisa.schofield@nqnw.co.uk

Submissions via the post must be sent to The Guide, The Wellsprings, Victoria Square, Bolton BL1 1AR.

Applicants must supply copies of their most recent accounts (where required by the Charities Commission) or other appropriate financial information, together with details of their organisation’s managing committee.

Recipients must report back on the grant’s use to the Chairman of the Trustees within 12 months of the award and applicants, who must not have received a Gannett Foundation grant within the last two years, must be registered charities

Excluded from the funding are salaries, professional fees and running/maintenance costs; general appeals; political or religious objectives; state/privately run schools (other than special needs) and hospitals (other than hospices).