CHARITIES and community groups across Keighley district can sign up for this year's Gannett Foundation grants, to be in with a chance of receiving thousands of pounds worth of funding.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, the parent company of the Keighley News and its sister daily newspaper the Telegraph and Argus.

Each year the foundation runs a campaign to reward hard working and important charities.

Previous recipients of grants have included Small World Cultural Arts Collective in Keighley, which was given £5,960, and Haworth Riding for the Disabled (RDA), which received £14,250 to create a state-of-the-art surface in its indoor riding school.

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This building was opened in September 2010 by Princess Anne, president of the national Riding for the Disabled Association.

Commenting at the time of the grant award, Haworth RDA group secretary Jackie Butterfield, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded the money.

“We’ve now got 150 riders on our books. We give therapeutic lessons to people with physical and learning disabilities.

“It’s fun, it helps with co-ordination and it helps with their balance. It’s a social thing for families and a bit of respite for mums and dads.”

Haworth RDA was formed in 2001 and began with just one horse, one pony and three volunteers.

Small World, based in Luton Street, Keighley, was set up by volunteers in 1999 to provide grass roots arts in the town.

It works mainly with young people, using arts to allow individuals to develop and communities to come together.

The Gannett Foundation will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility, and the submission of copies of the charity's most recent financial accounts is 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.

DOWNLOAD A GANNETT FOUNDATION GRANTS APPLICATION FORM

The grants will not be given to general appeals as opposed to specific projects, projects that do not bring benefits to local communities, projects with political or religious objectives, state or privately-run schools, other than special needs, or hospitals, other than hospices.

Funding can not be used to pay salaries, professional fees, or day-to-day running or maintenance costs.

The deadline for applications to be made this year is Friday October 6.

For an application form click here. Submit the completed form to elaine.wilson@nqyne.co.uk

Applications must be sent by e-mail.