Community groups are being urged to apply for funding from the Telegraph & Argus's parent company.

Community groups wanting to be part of the Gannett Foundation's next round of awards have until Friday, October 1 to put in their bid.

Charities can apply to the charity foundation for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000.

And since the foundation was established in Britain three years ago, it has given grants totalling almost £2.5 million.

It provides support for projects which take a creative approach to issues including education, neighbourhood improvements, youth development, cultural enrichment and support for disadvantaged people.

Young people in Laisterdyke have been among those who have benefited from cash from the foundation, thanks to a £5,000 award.

The Vine Trust, founded by members of St Mary's Church in Pawson Street, has used the cash as part of its Moving On project. The award has helped more than 20 young people to make a fresh start.

Those who have been helped so far include 15 youngsters who were excluded from school or who were close to exclusion and who went along to the Vine community centre once a week to learn new skills, from leadership to IT.

Around six 16 to 24-year-olds have also been helped to broaden their skills by getting qualifications in sport and leisure subjects from basketball and football coaching to canoeing.

The Vine Trust's youth work manager Jan de Villiers said: "The Gannett award has helped make all this possible. It was excellent seed money that helped us attract more grants to make sure our work can continue."