COMMUNITY groups and organisations are being given the chance to get a grant from the owners of the company that publishes your Worcester News.

Grants between £1,000 and £5,000 are available from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of Gannett Co Inc, owner of Newsquest Media Group, which is one of the UK's largest publishers.

The foundation supports projects that take a creative approach to helping young and disabled people. Last year the Bridge Counselling Service, which is based in The Angel Centre, Angel Place, Worcester, was awarded £2,250 from the Fund.

Co-ordinator Sue Cokeram (corr) said the money has made a big difference to the charity which offers counselling to anybody about almost anything.

She said the money has been spent on computers, equipment, updating the service's literature, as well as offering higher quality counselling for clients.

"It has been brilliant," she said. "Last year from September to August we had 1,500 counselling sessions which are all an hour long which is about 500 more than we did the previous year."

Other groups that have benefitted in previous years include Perdiswell Skate Park, the Snoezelen Project, Arcos in Malvern.

However, the Fund will not consider applications: * From unregistered charitable causes * For endowment funds * For animal charities * For medical research * For causes promoting religion * To fund salaries or general running costs * That are not made in writing on the official form * That have altered the form or do not give full answers The official application form and a copy of the Gannett Foundation guidelines can be obtained from Roni Skye, Worcester News, Hylton Road, Worcester, WR2 5JX. Email roni.skye@midlands.newsquest.co.uk or call 01905 742265.

Forms must be returned to the same address by Monday, October 22. All donations are strictly at the discretion of the Fund.