COUNTY charities could find they are in the money by applying for cash support from a UK-wide fund.

Last year, donations totalling almost £300,000 were made up and down the country on behalf of Newsquest Media Group, one of the UK's largest publishers and owners of the East Lothian Courier.

The Gannett Foundation UK, which makes the grants, has given more than £3 million to help charitable community causes all over Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the last 10 years.

One of the successful applicants last year was Lothian Autistic Society, which received £5,000 for its East Lothian Basecamp service. This service supports children, aged 5-13, with autism and helps them develop social communication and social interaction skills through structured themed group and play sessions.

The foundation supports charities with projects which take a creative approach to fundamental issues such as education and neighbourhood improvements, economic development, youth development, local problem-solving, assistance to the disadvantaged or disabled, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.

And it values projects that bring lasting benefits to local communities.

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

Typically grants are made for substantial projects which require and merit awards of between £5,000 and £10,000, although applications can be for any size of grant and level of ambition.

The foundation will join with other contributors to support elements of larger projects, but prefers to be in a position of making a donation which will fund a project in its entirely or which constitutes the final instalment to complete a project.

Decisions in respect of the value of the funding will be made by the trustees and based on the evidence submitted.

The foundation favours 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.

Each nomination will be judged on its own merits at the absolute discretion of the trustees, whose decision is final.

Applications must be submitted, in PDF form, to editorial@eastlothiancourier.com, on the approved application form here.

Any applications which do not meet our criteria or which do not follow our rules and procedures will be rejected.

Applications must arrive by 5pm on Monday, October 8, 2018.

Restrictions:

  • Applicants must be registered charities and applicants must not have received a grant from us within the last two years.
  • The foundation will NOT fund: Salaries, professional fees or day-to-day running or maintenance costs; General appeals as opposed to specific projects; Projects that do not bring benefits to our local communities; Political or religious objectives; State or privately run schools (other than special needs) or hospitals (other than hospices).
  • The following are just some typical examples of the grants we made in 2017 all over the UK: £5,000 to Lothian Autistic Society for its East Lothian Basecamp service; £5,500 for Action on Elder Abuse Peer Support in Scotland; £6,260 to Canvey Island Youth Project hall in East London; £9,760 bought equipment for a dementia daycare in East London; £4,925 supporting a project led by young disabled people producing short films in South London; £6,540 towards equipment required to start up a mobile 'Men’s Sheds' workshop in Northern Ireland.