CHARITIES in Somerset and Devon could land a cash jackpot of thousands of pounds thanks to your County Gazette.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, owner of Newsquest Media Group, which publishes regional newspapers, websites and magazines nationwide, including the County Gazette and its sister papers in Somerset.

The Gannett Foundation provides funding to support local projects and organisations in areas where Newsquest operates in the UK.

It values projects that bring lasting benefits to the communities and neighbourhoods served by its papers.

That includes schemes for neighbourhood improvement and local problem-solving, economic development, youth development, education and cultural creativity, help for the disadvantaged or disabled and environmental conservation.

Editor Alex Cameron said: “We want to help good causes throughout the area to realise their ambitions.

“Grants are typically made for substantial projects which require and merit awards of between £5,000 and £10,000.

“The trustees also consider more modest applications, but we actively encourage imaginative and ambitious projects on a bigger scale.

“We’re also able to join with other contributors to support elements of larger projects.

“This year trustees are encouraging hospices to make an application.

“Though hospices receive about onethird of their funding from the NHS, they remain very reliant on charitable donations.”

Preference may be given to ideas which create a durable legacy for the community, but Gannett will consider single events or projects of limited duration that otherwise meet the criteria.

Applications, along with full guidelines and details on restrictions, can be downloaded by clicking on somersetcountygazette.co.uk/ gannett_foundation The closing date for applications, which should be emailed to alex.cameron@nqsw.co.uk, is 5pm on Thursday, September 11.