THOUSANDS of pounds are up for grabs to community groups thanks to a charitable trust set up by The Bolton News’ parent company.

The Gannett Foundation awards money to support local projects and organisations and, in the past 10 years, has made grants in the UK alone totalling more than £4 million.

Priority is given to projects that bring lasting benefits to communities, including schemes for neighbourhood improvement and problem-solving, economic development, youth development, education and cultural creativity, help for the disadvantaged or disabled and environmental conservation.

Applications are welcome for specific items of equipment, anything from a box of toys for disadvantaged children to sophisticated medical equipment for cancer research.

A spokesman for the foundation said: “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.”

One charity to have benefited from a Gannett Foundation grant in recent years is Newstalk — an organisation which provides a recorded weekly bulletin from The Bolton News to blind or partially sighted people — or who have a temporary disability that makes it hard for them to read the newspaper.

The charity received £9,600 which paid for a new computer system, 350 memory sticks and speakers.

The foundation, the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc. which is the parent company of Newsquest Media Group — one of the UK's largest publishers and owners of The Bolton News — favours projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility.

For an application form, contact Lisa Schofield, The Wellsprings, Civic Centre, Bolton, BL1 1AR, or e mail at lisa.schofield@nqnw.co.uk, or you can download it here: GANNETT FOUNDATION APPLICATION FORM 2014 V1.docx

The closing date for forms to be returned is September 12.