CHARITIES have just over a week to get their applications in for a chance to secure a Gannett Foundation grant.

Requests to fund everything from minibuses to solar panels have been sent in from charity representatives vying for a slice of the foundation’s annual handout.

Registered charities in south and west Dorset are invited to submit detailed applications to the Dorset Echo outlining how they would benefit from a grant ahead of the October 14 deadline.

Imaginative ideas on how to benefit the community will be rewarded by the charitable arm of the US media firm Gannett, which owns Newsquest Media, publisher of the Dorset Echo.

The grants are designed to support projects that benefit a broad section of the local population or are seen to have lasting benefit to the community.

Applications from causes and projects that take a ‘creative approach to local community needs’ are welcomed along with charitable enterprises to fund individuals to obtain skills to benefit the community.

Sue Follan is a project manager at Weymouth Community Volunteers which has applied for a grant to buy a second-hand minibus.

She said: “The idea is if we had the transport we could reduce the costs to us as a charity so we could undertake more work within the community.”

The charity has around 200 people on its books who work on community projects or volunteer to drive elderly patients to Dorchester County Hospital.

Members of Powerstock Hut Committee are keeping their fingers crossed their application to fit solar panels to the village hall is successful. The committee’s chairman, George Guy, said: “The village hall is a key facility in the community.”

Applications will not be considered if they are from non registered charities, intended to fund salaries or general running costs, political or regional organisations or state or privately owned schools - except special needs schools, or hospitals other than hospices.

Previous applicants who have been given a grant in the last two years will also not be considered.

Last year’s successful applicants were Dorset Search and Rescue, Dorset Youth Association’s Routes cafe bar, waterside Weymouth Commu-nity Forum and Dorchester Amateur Boxing Club.

To download the Gannett Grant 2011 application form click here Gannettapplicationform2011.doc