TIME is ticking for charities and community groups hoping to get extra funding courtesy of the Oxford Mail.

The Gannett Foundation , the charitable arm of the Oxford Mail’s parent company, is giving away up to £10,000 to organisations across Oxfordshire.

So far applications have been flooding in to the Oxford Mail from those hoping to to get cash.

Last year’s winners were Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground, which was given £6,500, Oxford Food Bank, which was awarded £10,000, and Carterton’s memorial bell appeal, which received £9,000.

Sue Price is behind Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground which is now back up and running.

The playground provided a place for children from the estate to play for more than 30 years before it closed in December 2009 due to financial concerns.But it used a Gannett grant to reopen.

She said: “It has been fantastic and it has made all the difference getting this grant.

“We are up and running now but just two years ago the adventure playground was overgrown and the grant was absolutely instrumental.

“This would not have happened without it.”

Charities and groups can apply for Gannett grants of between £5,000 and £10,000.

The foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, which owns Newsquest, the parent company of the Oxford Mail and its sister paper The Oxford Times .

Simon O’Neill, group editor at Newsquest Oxfordshire, said: “Last year’s winners demonstrated just what a great boost this grant can be in these difficult times.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the wide range of causes which will be in the running for this year’s grant.”

Religious or political groups, schools, hospitals, and general appeals are not eligible, nor are applications for salaries or running costs.

All applications will go through a strict judging process. Applications must be in by 5pm tomorrow. For further details and to apply, visit oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/gannettfoundation