ARE YOU in a group needing money to improve your project?

Do you know a youth group requiring a bit of a spruce up?

Or perhaps there is a homeless group that could do with new equipment to help get people back on their feet?

Whatever the help required, community organisations can apply for a Gannett Foundation grant to help pay for equipment needed or running costs.

The Gannett Foundation is part of Gannett -- owner of Newsquest Media Group which includes the Bolton Evening News -- and it gave more than £6.5million to charitable causes in 2001.

The Foundation has provided funding to support local organisations across the United Kingdom, concentrating on those which take a creative approach to issues such as education, neighbourhood improvement and youth development.

However, grants will not be given to following groups: Individuals; Organisations that are not registered charities; National or regional organisations unless the project addresses specific local community needs; Promotion of religious causes; Endowment funds; General appeals or multi-year campaigns; Medical or research organisations; And animal charities.

There will be two rounds of grants this year. The first successful applicants will be announced in May, with a second round to begin in the summer and announced in December.

So if you feel a group that you know, or belong to, could benefit from a Gannett Foundation grant you can apply for an entry form.

They are available by calling into the Bolton Evening News offices on Churchgate, Bolton, or apply for a form by post to: The Editor, Gannett Foundation Grants, Bolton Evening News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE.

Applications must be in by March 25, 2002.