CHARITIES which do lasting work in the community across the Bradford district are being encouraged to apply for a grant of up to £10,000 from the Telegraph & Argus’ charitable arm.

The Gannett Foundation, operated by the US company Gannett, which owns the T&A, is looking for deserving candidates to come forward to receive cash to help provide services in the district.

Charities can focus on a variety of issues, from helping disadvantaged or disabled people, to working with young people, environmental conservation and boosting the economy.

Last year, a number of local causes received a helping hand from the Gannett Foundation, with one of the major beneficiaries being the University of Bradford’s Cancer Research Unit.

As part of a £1 million appeal to buy a new spectrometer, the T&A handed over a cheque for £20,000 to the unit.

The new piece of equipment, which arrived at the university at the end of 2015, is being used by scientists to look into how to diagnose breast cancer more quickly.

A University of Bradford spokesman said now staff had been fully trained on how to use the spectrometer, the unit was making big leaps in its research.

He said: “The new spectrometer is now allowing the generation of ground-breaking results using a number of different strategies, depending on the needs of the project.

“We have been able to compare the performance of the old with the new instrument, and samples that took a month to analyse previously can now be analysed in two days.

“Whereas we only had two approaches to looking into certain changes in proteins with the old system, we now have different strategies with improved accuracy, and most importantly, due to improved sensitivity, we are now seeing up to three times as many proteins enabling us to understand cancer mechanisms in greater detail.

“We have also started exploring the side effects of cancer drugs and the new discoveries will help us understand which people should be given specific treatment.”

The University of Bradford will be supporting other grant applications form across the faculty of life sciences, after other research groups saw the capabilities of the spectrometer.

Another organisation which benefitted from the Gannett Foundation in 2015 was the Small World Cultural Arts Collective, based in Keighley, which received £5,950.

The charity, which was founded in 1999, uses the creative arts to help improve opportunities for young and disadvantaged people.

Sam Atkins, of Small World, said: “The grant from the Gannett Foundation has allowed Small World to purchase instruments and equipment for our very successful music project which has now been running for three years.

“The project works with over 40 young people teaching a range of music making skills with many of the young people becoming multi-instrumentalists.

“This has been made possible by the additional funding from the Gannett Foundation as it has allowed us to purchase instruments in varying sizes for the different ages of young people attending, as well as a range of world instruments and percussion to enable community sessions in Keighley and surrounding areas.

“The grant has also enabled the project to purchase digital recording equipment to allow the group to record and mix their music.

“Small World has submitted a further application to develop the project for another three years.”

The Cellar Trust, a mental health charity based in Shipley, also benefitted from funding provided through the Gannett Foundation.

Kim Shutler-Jones, the Trust's chief executive, said: “Thanks to the kind support of the Gannett Foundation we have been able to invest in our training kitchen and café, to create a better environment for our clients who wish to build their confidence and develop new skills in catering.

“We have purchased essential new equipment to support the learning of our clients, and we also refurbished the café area on Farfield Road, Shipley which we hope will attract new customers and help to ensure that we can continue to deliver this valuable service for the people of Bradford.”

To apply for a grant, click here to download an application form. Send the completed form, with any supporting documents, to elaine.wilson@telegraphandargus.co.uk

The deadline for applications is Friday, October 14.