CHARITABLE organisations across Oxfordshire are being reminded to apply for financial awards of up to £10,000 to support their projects.

The Oxford Mail’s parent company, Gannett, hands out grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 twice a year, through its charitable section the Gannett Foundation.

Groups across the county have until 5pm on Friday, October 21, to make a bid for funding.

Oxford Mail deputy editor Sara Taylor said: “These are tough times financially, so we are encouraging all charities in Oxfordshire which qualify to apply for these grants.

“We are looking forward to spreading some good news before Christmas.”

The grants, which total more than £4m in the UK, are designed to help a broad section of the population.

Last week, managers of the Restore team on the Fleet Meadow estate in Didcot, which helps adults with mental health problems, said a £15,000 grant to pay for a new minibus in 2009 had made a big difference to their operation.

And the Didcot, Abingdon and Wantage Talking Newspaper (DAWN) received £6,848 last year.

DAWN used the cash to move from recording newspapers on to tapes, which it was still using up until April, to USB flash drives for computers.

The digital switch allowed the charity to speed up its recording process, and has been welcomed by users.

Organisations applying must be registered charities and Gannett particularly values community projects.

Download an entry form at: oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/gannettfoundation/