YOUNG carers have enjoyed 'memorable' trips to Harry Potter World, Thorpe Park and Cadbury’s World thanks to a £5,700 grant from the Gannett Foundation.

South and Vale Young Carers supports those aged eight to 24 living in South Oxfordshire who look after family members.

The in-demand charity helps about 450 young carers and their families, with four new referrals every week, and its ambition is to double this by 2020.

The Oxford Mail's parent company Gannett Media is searching for charities looking for a funding boost of up to £10,000.

South and Vale Young Carers applied in last year's funding round and was one of five charities in Oxfordshire given £30,000 to fund everything from a cyber cafe for vulnerable teenagers to refurbishing a play area.

Manager John Tabor said the money had had a 'massive' impact on the young people they help.

He explained: "The trips are really memorable for them because it's a safe space, free from judgement, where they can talk with other carers who understand what they are going through and enjoy themselves.

In the original application for funding, Mr Tabor added: “Being able to go on trips with other young carers or with their family is our young carers’ biggest wish and the highlight of their social calendar.

“That is why the number of young carers who ask us to attend trips considerably outstrips the number of places we can offer every year, often three times over.”

Each year the Gannett Foundation sifts through hundreds of applications to find local causes most in need of help.

This year the criteria has been expanded to include one-day or limited-time events.

Mr Tabor encouraged other local groups to apply and said: "It's not a complex process and I think as long as you have something meaningful to say then the foundation will listen."

He added: "The fact it is a local organisation recognising the work of another local group can also trigger other funding as well."

All applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, October 9. They will only be accepted if submitted on an approved entry form, available from oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/gannettfoundation.

These must be sent with supporting evidence to gannettapplications@nqo.com or by post to Oxford Mail, Newsquest Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ.