VILLAGERS in Harwell are hoping to win grant money to build a new playground.

The Oxford Mail’s parent company Gannett is once more giving away up to £10,000 to charitable causes across the county.

And the Our Street Corner youth club in Harwell has applied for a cash boost to help create a special jubilee playground. It could include a zip wire, a nest swing and a roundabout.

The youth club has already raised enough money to pay for the first phase of the playground which is aimed at younger children, but it is looking for help to finish off the work.

Harwell resident Kate Beswick said: “This was started off by the teenagers in our youth club who decided that they hadn’t got enough things in the play area so they made a petition.”

The Gannett Foundation is the charitable arm of Gannett, which owns Newsquest and the Oxford Mail and its sister paper The Oxford Times .

Last year’s winners were the Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground, which was given £6,500 and the Oxford Food Bank which received £10,000 while £9,000 went towards Carterton’s memorial bell appeal.

Charities and groups can apply for Gannett grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 Simon O’Neill, group editor at Newsquest Oxfordshire, said: “Last year’s winners demonstrated just what a great boost this grant can be in these difficult times.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the wide range of causes which will be in the running for this year’s grant.”
 

Religious or political groups, schools, hospitals, and general appeals are not eligible, nor are applications for salaries or running costs.

Applications must be in no later than 5pm on Friday, September 21. To find out more information and to submit an application, visit oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/ gannettfoundation.