THERE'S still time to get your nominations in for charities you think the Oxford Mail should give a slice of £20,000 to.


Our parent company’s charitable arm, the Gannett Foundation, is providing the pot of cash to support charities across the country.

And we want you to decide where this money should be spent.

We are asking Oxford Mail readers to nominate their favourite local charities to be considered for a grant.

Making a nomination couldn’t be easier – simply log on to oxfordmail.co.uk/readerschoice and fill in your nomination form or you can write to us, confirming the name and address of the charity you would like to nominate and why to: Readers’ Choice Cash For Charity Nominations, 5 Kings Meadow, Ferry Hinksey Road, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0DP by the closing date of Sunday, October 3.

Once all nominations have been received, our editor will select eight of the most popular local charities to be featured in this year’s grants scheme.

Oxford Mail editor Pete Gavan said: "If you know a local charity that you think is deserving, then please let us know.

"It might be one that went the extra mile during the pandemic, or a group that plays a key role it its community. Whatever the reason, make sure you get your nomination in."

We are then going to put the power to allocate the cash back into the hands of our readers – for four weeks, readers will be invited to collect tokens from our newspapers which can then be sent to collection points across our region or posted.

Each token collected will then be used to allocate cash to the nominated charity – so if your favourite charity collects 50% of all to tokens collected, it will receive 50% of the £20,000.

In 2018, four Oxfordshire causes were awarded funds.

These included Dovecote Voluntary Parent Committee in Greater Leys, which received £8,645.

The committee used the funding to buy all-weather turf for its outdoor play area, new equipment including goal posts and a seesaw and new indoor toys, board games and fancy dress costumes.

Carol Richards, children and families services manager at the centre, said in 2018: “The support of the Gannett Foundation is very much appreciated and valued.

“A huge thank you to trustees for their valuable support.”

In 2017 young carers enjoyed memorable trips to Harry Potter World, Thorpe Park and Cadbury’s World thanks to a £5,700 grant from the Gannett Foundation.

South and Vale Young Carers was supporting those aged eight to 24 living in South Oxfordshire who look after family members.