THE Evening Advertiser's parent company will be giving grants to local charities again this year.

The Gannett Foundation Fund, which is the charitable arm of the Gannett Company, gives out grants of up to £5,000 twice each year.

And charities in and around Swindon can now apply for their chance to win an award of between £1,000 and £5,000.

The grants are expected to be given out in May.

In the last round of awards Tech4D was given a £1,000 grant to help improve facilities at its workshop.

The charity supplies computers to disabled and disadvantaged people in the town.

It also runs training courses at its base in Pinehurst People's Centre.

It means users, who are often housebound and on low incomes, can keep in contact with their families via email and have access to the internet.

Tech4D needed the grant to provide workbenches with special anti-static mats, computer equipment and shelving.

"The better the facilities on our workshop the more people in the community will benefit," Tech4D treasurer Tony Pinnell told the Advertiser.

"The more computers we can get ready for distribution, the better it is for our clients."

Brimble Hill Riding For The Disabled group and the Trail-blazers playscheme also benefited from grants to help their work at the end of last year.

There are certain criteria which groups must meet to apply for the grants.

Application forms and information on the criteria are available from the Evening Advertiser offices in Victoria Road or by logging on to our website at www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk.

Please fill out the form on our website not the Gannett site.

Alternatively email editor@newswilts.co.uk.

The deadline for applications is Friday, March 18.

Isabel Field