CHARITIES in York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire are being reminded that they can still bid for cash from the Gannett Foundation grant fund.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc, the parent company of Newsquest Media Group, one of the UK's largest publishers and owners of The Press.

The Foundation provides funding to registered charities in the areas where Gannett operates local newspapers and websites; they value projects that bring lasting benefits to those communities.

The fund supports registered charities with projects which take a ‘creative approach to fundamental issues’ such as neighbourhood improvements, economic development, youth enterprise, assistance to disadvantaged or disabled people, care for the elderly, environmental conservation, and educational or cultural enrichment.

Charities of all sizes can apply. Typically grants are modest sums for practical projects, but the Foundation frequently award sums of £10,000 or more to larger projects which deserve backing.

Although the Foundation prefer making a donation which will fund a project entirely, or will complete a project, they are able to join with other contributors to support elements of larger projects.

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 www.yorkpress.co.uk/gannett/.

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 paula.homer@nqyne.co.uk.

Submissions on paper are not encouraged, but if unavoidable, they must be sent to Paula Homer, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.

In every case, applications must arrive by 5pm on Friday, October 16, 2015.