GLASGOW community groups could get a share of a fantastic funding pot thanks to the Evening Times.

The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of our parent company, is looking for applications for grants to benefit good causes in in the city.

It’s part of its UK-wide scheme to help projects in the areas where it sells newspapers. In the last 10 years, the Gannett Foundation has made grants totalling nearly £4million in the UK alone.

Simon Westrop, Trustee Chairman for Gannett Foundation UK explained: “We value 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 local 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.”

Grants range from a few hundred pounds to more than £10,000 in special circumstances, and the trustees welcome applications from ambitious projects.

Mr Westrop added: “We particularly invite clearly reasoned applications asking for specific items of equipment or materials. “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.”

Applicants must be registered charities, and cannot have received a grant from the foundation within the last two years.

Last year, the Trust awarded a range of grants across the UK, including £3140 for the Scottish Centre for Children with Motor Impairments (SCCMI) which provides a specialist access to education service, offering physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help children with cerebral palsy, The money enabled the centre, which is based in Cumbernauld, to upgrade a home-from-home area for families, with 12 new beds for children.

Other Glasgow projects which have received funding in recent years include Glasgow Play Resource Association, which received £2500 to install a second-hand paper and cardboard compressor; ConfiDance, who received £1000 to run a dance weekend for blind and visually-impaired people; and the Saturday Cafe, who received £5780 to help resurface an outdoor playground at a community centre.

Applications must be submitted on the approved application form, which can be downloaded here: GANNETT FOUNDATION APPLICATION FORM 2017.docx

The application form cannot be downloaded to mobile devices. 

The completed form and any supporting documents should be sent electronically via e-mail to elaine.young@heraldandtimes.co.uk by 5pm on Monday, October 2.