CHARITIES in Bolton are being encouraged to apply for grants from the parent company of The Bolton News.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, which owns The Bolton News publisher, Newsquest Media Group.

In the past 10 years alone, the foundation has made grants in the UK alone totalling nearly £4 million.

Bolton projects to have benefited in the past include Bolton Hospice, which was given £8,300 to fund equipment in 2015.

Another charity to benefit was Newstalk — an organisation which provides a recorded weekly bulletin from The Bolton News to blind or partially sighted people. The charity received £9,600 which paid for a new computer system, 350 memory sticks and speakers.

We are looking for 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.

We particularly invite clearly reasoned applications asking for specific items of equipment or materials.

Most of our applications are for relatively modest sums under £10,000 meeting everyday needs, but we will consider worthwhile projects on a bigger scale.

And we are also able to join with other contributors to support elements of more ambitious projects.

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.

Each year we choose a special theme and encourage relevant applications.

The needs of rural communities is the chosen theme for 2016. But of course we will give equal consideration to all other applications we receive that meet our general criteria.

We will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility.

You can download the application form here - GANNETT FOUNDATION application form 2016.docx

It should be sent via email to lisa.schofield@nqnw.co.uk.

Submissions via the post are not encouraged, but if unavoidable, they must be sent to The Bolton News, The Wellsprings, Victoria Square, Bolton BL1 1AR.

The closing date for submissions is October 14.

Restrictions: You must supply copies of your most recent accounts (where required by the Charities Commission) or other appropriate financial information, together with any supporting materials and details of your organisation’s managing committee.

It will be a condition of each grant that the recipient must report back on its use to the Chairman of the Trustees within 12 months of the award.

Applicants must be registered charities.

Applicants must not have received a grant from us within the last two years.

We will not fund salaries, professional fees or day-today running or maintenance costs, general appeals as opposed to specific projects, or projects that do not bring benefits to our local communities, political or religious objectives, state or privately run schools (other than special needs) or hospitals (other than hospices).