THERE is still time to make a bid for a funding boost, thanks to The Evening Times.

The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of our parent company, distributes grants across the UK, benefitting good causes in the areas in which it sells newspapers.

Last year, the fund distributed more than a quarter of a million pounds to a range of charities, including a £7000 grant to the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.

We support registered charities with projects which take a creative approach to fundamental issues such as neighbourhood improvements, local problem-solving, economic development, youth enterprise, assistance to disadvantaged or disabled people, care of the elderly, environmental conservation, and educational or cultural enrichment.

We value projects that bring lasting benefits to communities served by our local newspapers and websites. While preference may 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.

And we will consider 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.

We are able to join with other contributors to support elements of larger projects, though we prefer to be in a position of making a donation which will fund a project entirely or which constitutes the final instalment to complete a project.

Decisions about funding will be made by the trustees based on the evidence submitted.

The Foundation will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility. As a prerequisite, the submission of copies of the charity’s most recent financial accounts are required.

In addition, any supporting materials and further details concerning the overall aims of the charity should be included with each submission.

Each nomination will be judged on its own merits at the absolute discretion of the trustees, whose decision is final. Applications must be submitted on the approved application form, which can be downloaded at http://goo.gl/9e2tno.

Any applications which do not meet our criteria or which do not follow our rules and procedures will be rejected.

The completed form and supporting document should be sent electronically via email to margaret.morrison@heraldandtimes.co.uk.

Submissions on paper are not encouraged, but if unavoidable, they must be sent to Margaret Morrison, PA to Title Editors, Herald & Times Group, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3QB by Friday October 16, 2015.