A DIRECTOR working at an Oxford charity has said what a “difference” it made receiving almost £10,000 through a grant scheme launched by the Oxford Mail’s parent company.

Every year the Gannett Foundation, the official charity arm of the Oxford Mail’s parent company Gannett, gives away about £20,000 to a range of worthy causes in the county.

Helen and Douglas House was awarded £9,662 in December 2013 through the scheme, and director of clinical services at the charity Liz Leigh said that hearing the news at the time was “phenomenal”.

And she is urging local charitable organisations to apply for funds, as the scheme opens again this year.

Charities that apply could be in with a chance of receiving a grant of £5,000, £10,000, or even more, towards a project members are working on.

Helen House, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, was the world’s first children’s hospice, opening in November 1982.

The charity cares for terminally ill children, young adults and their families through hospice care, and relies entirely on donations and grants.

Mrs Leigh said: “From our point of view it was a really timely grant for us.

“It was while we were having refurbishments at the house.

“We ended up buying two mobile hoists, which enabled us to carry children from the bed to the bath, or the bed to a chair – they have been invaluable since.

“I would say to charities thinking about applying, just go for it.

“You have nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain – we certainly did .”

As well as the two hoists, costing around £1,500 each, the charity also bought other medical equipment, including a drugs trolley.

Other grant recipients include Oxfordshire mental health charity Restore, which received £15,000 for a new minibus in 2009.

The deadline for applications to be submitted for this year’s Gannett Grant is Friday, October 16.

Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neill said: “ The grants focus on projects that bring lasting benefits to communities that are served by our newspapers and websites.”

* To apply, follow this link.