THOUSANDS of pounds are up for grabs for local good causes but time is running out to get your applications in.

Once again, the Oxford Mail’s parent company’s Gannett Foundation is looking to help charities that are helping their communities.

Across the UK, Gannett hands out £250,000 to good causes every six months.

Community projects can submit applications for a grant of up to £50,000 but fully completed forms must be sent in by September 10.

Last year, Trax, which helps young people with behavioural problems, was given £9,000 by the foundation.

The charity used the money to build a new kitchen at its base in Red Barn Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford.

Trax project manager Lyndon Biddle said: “I would absolutely recommend applying for a Gannett grant, I know quite often there’s a lot of work involved in applying but it’s definitely well worth it.

“It has made a massive change at Trax, not only with the young people benefiting but the staff as well.”

The charity’s new kitchen was finished in May, and since then young people have learned how to cook healthy meals.

Mr Biddle added: “One of the problems is that some of the young people who come to us, their diets are absolutely awful.

“They may not have had breakfast, they won’t have made any provision for lunch or if they would then it probably won’t be too healthy, and then we have problems with concentration in the afternoons or hyper-activity.

“We are seeking to promote healthy eating, but we have to make that interesting for young people.”

The Gannett Foundation provides funding to projects that take a creative approach to local community needs and benefit a large number of people.

Other organisations that have been helped include Banbury Young Homelessness Project, which was given £3,140 for its five-a-side football team, and Oxfordshire Crossroads with a £25,300 grant for a new van.

HOW TO APPLY

FOR information on how to apply for a grant, go to oxfordmail.co.uk/ news/gannettfoundation.

The Foundation gives priority to projects of lasting benefit, those that help people with special needs either through disability or disadvantage, sport, environment, conservation and local history projects.

All donations are strictly at the discretion of the fund, but applicants should note that the fund will not consider unregistered charities, applications that are not made in writing on the official form, applications that alter the form or do not give full answers on funding of salaries or general running costs, endowment funds, animal charities, medical research or causes promoting religion.

Completed forms should be sent to the Editor’s PA, Newsquest Oxfordshire, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ by September 10.