The Epping Forest Guardian is looking for worthy causes who could benefit from grants to help them help the community.

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett Co, Inc., owner of the Guardian's parent company Newsquest Media Group, which publishes regional and local newspapers, websites and magazines across the UK. The Gannett Foundation provides funding to support local projects and organisations in areas where Newsquest operates. In the past 10 years, the Gannett Foundation has made grants in the UK alone totalling nearly £4 million.

We value practical and creative projects that bring lasting benefits to the communities and neighbourhoods served by our newspapers and online audience. That includes schemes for neighbourhood improvement and local problem-solving, economic development, youth development, education and cultural enrichment, care of the elderly or infirm, help for the disadvantaged or disabled, and environmental conservation.

We particularly invite clearly reasoned applications asking for specific items of equipment or materials.Most of our applications are for relatively modest sums meeting everyday needs and that will be our special focus in 2019.

We are also able to join with other contributors to support elements of more ambitious projects. While preference will be given to ideas which create a tangible and durable benefit, we will consider single events, performances or other projects of limited duration that otherwise meet our criteria.

We will favour projects that demonstrate good planning, oversight and financial responsibility. You must supply copies of your most recent accounts (where required by the Charities Commission) or other appropriate financial information, together with any supporting materials and details of your organisation’s managing committee. The grants will be monitored by the relevant local newspaper editor, and it will be a condition of each grant that the recipient must report back on it use to the Chairman of the Trustees within 12 months of the award.

The following are just some typical examples of the grants we made in 2018 all over the UK:

Last year's grant winners in the north London area were a £4,000 scheme to replace windows in Upshire Village Hall, Essex, and a £7,298 grand to Art Against Knives, a scheme to give children at risk of getting involved in crime the chance to make music.

Across the UK awards included £3,000 for 30 starter packs supporting the previously homeless settle at Elmbridge Rentstart, South London; £5,000 to create a sensory garden at High Royds Memorial Garden in Bradford and £3,000 to refurbish a foodbank in Brighton.

The trustees will not consider applications that are not on the official form (including applications made on forms downloaded from the Gannett USA website); that do not give full answers, or fail to supply all data and materials requested in the official form; or from organisations or causes that are not registered charities.

Neither will they give money to general appeals, for salaries or general running costs, to political or religious organisations, to state or privately run schools (other than special needs) or hospitals (other than hospices); or to organisations that are Community Interest Companies, but not registered charities.

All submissions must be in electronic PDF format on the standard application form available by emailing

kelly.pells@london.newsquest.co.uk. Submissions on paper are not encouraged, but if unavoidable, they must be sent to Kelly Pells, Observer House, Caxton Way, Watford, WD18 8RJ.

The deadline for applications is 12noon on Friday, October 18, 2019.