The trustees of legacies left by two Wiltshire benefactors to help children and young people are opening the door to this year's round of grant applications.

The William Doc' Couch Trust provides up to £100,000 a year for grants to help children and young people throughout Wiltshire who have disabilities or other needs. The Colonel William Llewellen Palmer Educational Charity aims to support children, young people, schools and youth organisations in Bradford on Avon.

Application forms for both trusts are available through Wiltshire County Council from April 2 and the deadline for submitting a grant request is June 1.

Trustees of both funds will meet in the middle of July and the successful applicants should be notified by the end of that month.

William Doc' Couch's daughter, Doreen, set up the trust in his memory. Mr Couch ran a chemist business in the Market Place, Chippenham, for 60 years from the early part of the last century and was known locally as Doc'.

His daughter, Doreen Couch - later Affleck - lived in Chippenham throughout her life and was head teacher at Sutton Benger School. Money invested by Mr Couch and his daughter was left to the trust in her will. To date the trust has awarded more than £400,000 to hundreds of groups and individuals.

Last year the trust made a number of grants to help children and young people under the age of 18 who have a disability or other needs. Projects supported in 2006 include: Musical activities in specials schools in the Salisbury area Support for a book club in Warminster Refurbishment of a multi-sensory room at a playgroup in Devizes Computer equipment for pupils with special needs at a primary school in Calne Toys and mobility equipment for pupils with special needs A countywide special schools music festival The Colonel William Llewellen Palmer Educational Charity was set up following the sale of land at Sladesbrook in Bradford on Avon. The land sold was part of an area that was the subject of a bequest to the county council by the colonel in 1931. The charity retains ownership of the rest of the land, which consists of a recreation ground and allotments.

The first priority for any income from the trust is the maintenance and upkeep of the Sladesbrook site. However any surplus income is made available to the children and young people in Bradford on Avon and to organisations that help provide leisure activities for these groups of children.

In 2006 15 awards were made by the trust totalling £16,200 ranging from funds towards a replacement minibus for the local Scout Group to workshops at the town's Arts Festival.

Application forms for both trusts are available from Darren Maplesden or Michael Gamble at the county council on 01225 713783 or by email on studentfinance@wiltshire.gov.uk.

Additional information is available at www.wiltshire.gov.uk.