CHARITIES in the Gazette's patch can now apply for a grant through our parent company.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc, the parent company of Newsquest Media Group, the owner of the Gazette.

The Foundation provides funding to registered charities and those in Dursley, Cam, Wotton, Berkeley, Sodbury, Yate, Thornbury and the surrounding areas can now apply for a grant.

A spokesman for the Foundation said: "We value projects that bring lasting benefits to communities served by our local newspapers and websites.

"While preference may be given to ideas which create a durable legacy for the community, we will consider single events or projects of limited duration that otherwise meet our criteria.

"We entertain applications of any size or ambition. Typically our grants are modest sums for practical projects, but we frequently award sums of £10,000 or more to larger projects which deserve our backing.

"We are able to join with other contributors to support elements of larger projects, though we prefer to be in a position of making a donation which will fund a project entirely or which constitutes the final instalment to complete a project.

"The Foundation will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility. As a prerequisite, the submission of copies of the charity’s most recent financial accounts are required. In addition, any supporting materials and further details concerning the overall aims of the charity should be included with each submission."

Applications must be submitted on the approved application form, which can be downloaded here: GANNETT FOUNDATION APPLICATION FORM 2015.docx

Any applications which do not meet the Foundation's criteria or which do not follow the rules and procedures will be rejected.

The completed form and supporting document should be sent electronically via email to michael.purton@gazetteseries.co.uk

Submissions on paper are not encouraged, but if unavoidable, they must be sent to Stroud News and Journal, 6 Lansdown, Stroud, GL5 1BE

In every case, applications must arrive by 5pm on Friday, October 16, 2015.