JUST one week remains for charities to put themselves forward for a cash boost courtesy of the Oxford Mail.

The Gannett Foundation , the charitable arm of the Oxford Mail’s parent company, is giving away up to £10,000 to charities across Oxfordshire.

So far 13 applications have been sent in to the Oxford Mail from charities hoping to be awarded a grant.

Oxford-based learning disability charity My Life My Choice is one of the organisations hoping to be successful.

Trustee Bryan Michell said: “We are all about getting people with learning disabilities to speak up for themselves, and this year our membership wanted to highlight hate crime as a campaigning issue.

“There is going to be a big leafleting campaign and we will be working with the local councils. The money will also go towards miniature cameras which are very easy for people with learning disabilities to use.”

My Life My Choice is looking for £5,340.

Other applicants include Oxford and District Sports and Recreational Association for the Disabled which is looking for cash for new gym equipment and Asylum Welcome which is looking for new office equipment.

The foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, which owns Newsquest, the parent company of the Oxford Mail and its sister paper The Oxford Times .

Charities and groups can apply for Gannett grants of between £5,000 and £10,000.

Last year’s winners were Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground which was given £6,500, Oxford Food Bank which was awarded £10,000, and Carterton’s memorial bell appeal, which received £9,000.

Simon O’Neill, group editor at Newsquest Oxfordshire, said: “Last year’s winners demonstrated just what a great boost this grant can be in these difficult times.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the wide range of causes which will be in the running for this year’s grant.”

Religious or political groups, schools, hospitals, and general appeals are not eligible, nor are applications for salaries or running costs.

  • All applications, including those featured here, will go through a strict judging process. Applications must be in by 5pm on Friday, September 21. For further details and to apply, visit oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/gannettfoundation