THE South Wales Argus is giving charities in Gwent the chance to improve their community by applying for a Gannett Foundation Fund.

Your Argus can give charity groups the opportunity of a helping hand, with grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 available. And there is still time to be in with a chance of receiving a grant.

The funding is thanks to Gannett, the American parent company of Newsquest and owners of your Argus.

The Gannett Foundation supports projects which take a creative approach to issues affecting young people and disabled people.

The foundation gives priority to youth projects, particularly involving young people with special needs either through disability or disadvantage.

Grants will not be given to individuals, organisations that are not registered charities, national or regional organisations unless the project addresses specific local community needs, uniformed youth groups, as part contribution to salary whether part time or full time, promotion of religious causes, endowment funds, general appeals, general contribution to costs or multi-year campaigns, medical or research organisations and animal charities.

Grants will be for £1,000 to £5,000 but larger grants may be made for exceptional projects.

Applications must be submitted soon as possible as you have just over a month to go before the deadline.

For an application form contact Caroline Stock on 01633 777201. The deadline for applications is March 31 and they must be sent to Caroline Stock, The South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Maesglas, Newport, NP20 3QN.

* Charities that have been helped by the Gannett Foundation Fund include Newport Action for the Single and Homeless, which was given a grant of £5,000 for the development of an arts day centre for the homeless and socially excluded to encourage further education, training and employment.

Also, the Torfaen Puffins Asthmatic Swimming Club received a grant of £3,000 for the funding of extra equipment and extra qualified staff.