A FUND set up by the Gazette and Herald to welcome in the Millennium is still going strong and applications have been invited for this year's awards from it.

Over the last seven years, the Gazette and Herald Community Fund, set up with donations from businesses and readers, has helped 50 different projects in our circulation area.

This year the Gazette and Herald is considering applications for grants of up to £200 from any voluntary group in the paper's readership area that has an annual income of less than £10,000.

The fund is administered by the Devizes-based Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon.

Applications may be for equipment or special projects. The projects so far supported are working to help a wide range of people - children, older people, disabled people and families.

Last year our grants helped pre-schools, village halls, carnival committees and a pantomime group.

A grant of £89 allowed the Friends of Langley Fitzurse School Association at Kington Langley buy a tombola drum to help it raise more money.

The Friends of Seagry School used the £85 they received to buy a K'Nex fairground construction set for Year 4 children.

Calne Twinkles pre-school group got £90 for a toy kitchen while another group for pre-school children, Bumps and Beyond, received £41 to buy a new safety gate.

Moving to the older members of the community, Malmesbury Tuesday Club was given £75 to invest in a swivelling cushion, sliding board and handy bar gadget to help get its members in and out of cars on their way to the club. Devizes and District Tuesday Elderly Handicapped Club had a good blow-out last Christmas after the fund gave them £100 towards their Christmas lunch.

The £120 received by the Thursday senior section of Devizes Guides bought a lock-up cupboard, which meant the group could keep all its equipment secure without having to take it home after each meeting.

The Kids on a Mission youth group used their £200 for healthy living activities, such as dance, body combat, yoga, aerobics and drama, while the same sum allowed Kennet Accordion Orchestra to buy new uniforms for their male players.

The deadline for the receipt of applications is October 29 and forms are available from the Gazette and Herald's offices, the Community Foundation's offices or can be downloaded from the Community Foundation's website www.wscf.org.uk.