GOOD causes are being invited to get their hands on huge handouts from the owner of the Redditch Advertiser.

People are being invited to follow the example of Black Country charity Loaves 'n' Fishes which scooped a whopping £12,000 from the Gannett Foundation.

Gannett is the American parent company of Redditch Advertiser publishers Newsquest and every year it gives away hundreds of thousands of pounds around the UK.

Loaves 'n' Fishes helps people in financial difficulty by providing everything from furniture to food and helps around 2,000 needy clients each year.

The charity’s founder, Anna Hartland, was overjoyed when she found out her Gannett grant application was successful.

She said: "I cannot explain what it means to Loaves 'n' Fishes to have had this donation, it is a real lifeline for so many people.

"We will be able to buy so many people microwaves and other essentials with this money."

She added: "Thanks to Newsquest's grant so many people will now be able to 'make a house, a home' with the goods we will be able to buy."

To download an application form for a 2017 Gannett Foundation grant click here: GANNETT FOUNDATION APPLICATION FORM 2017.pdf.

We support those registered charities with projects which take a creative approach to fundamental issues such as neighbourhood improvements, local problem-solving, economic development, youth enterprise, sport and healthy living, assistance to disadvantaged or disabled people, care of the elderly, environmental conservation, and educational or cultural enrichment.

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.

Typically our grants are modest sums for practical projects, but we will consider awards to larger projects which deserve our backing.

We are also 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. Decisions about funding will be made by the trustees based on the evidence submitted.

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.

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

Applications must be submitted on the approved application form, which is attached at the end of this article.

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

The completed form and supporting document should be sent electronically via email to sandie.hutchings@newsquest.co.uk. Submissions on paper are not encouraged, but if unavoidable, they must be sent to Worcester News, Hylton Road, Worcester WR2 5JX.