GRANTS of up to £5,000 are on offer to charities working in the communities of west and north Wiltshire.

The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News' parent company, is offering grants of between £1,000 and £5,000.

Editor Andy Sambidge said: "There are lots of charities out there that do such good work. These grants can make a real difference and we are glad to be able to give something back to our readers."

The grants are given out twice a year and groups that have benefited in recent years include the Melksham Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied Club, the Calne Physically Handicapped Club, west Wiltshire lone parenting charity Splitz and Trowbridge-based Group 5.

The foundation is particularly keen to hear from projects taking any innovative approach in areas such as neighbourhood improvements, youth development, environmental conservation and assisting disadvantaged members of the community.

Grants will not be given to organisations not registered as charities; national or regional organisations, unless the project addresses specific local or community needs; promotion of religious causes; endowment funds; general appeals or multi-year campaigns; medical or research organisations or animal charities.

Applications must be made on the correct forms and groups need to enclose their most recent accounts or financial information and a list of names and addresses of the members of the management committee.

  • Application forms are available from the Wiltshire Times offices in Trowbridge, by calling (01225) 773642 or by downloading from www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk. Completed forms should be returned to The Gannett Foundation, c/o Morwenna Blake, The Wiltshire Times, 15 Duke Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8EF, by April 21.