We are seeking again this year to make donations of up to approximately £500 to groups which may operate on a small budget or in a particular locality or Community or for whom such an amount of money would make a real difference. Applicants can apply for more than £500 but our resources are limited and we may not be able to fund the full amount requested. We are again keen to hear from groups who may be in the early stages of their development and for whom ‘seed corn’ money would help them get started, or other groups who find raising financial support difficult. We should also like to hear from groups who have a particular project that they need to finance.

This year we are also willing to accept bids that help individuals. For example, we might consider helping towards the cost of equipment for a person with special needs, but not towards the cost of travel for say a young person seeking to work abroad for a while.

The Club has traditionally supported charities and organisations which help children and young people in one way or another but the Community grants are not exclusively for the use and benefit of children and young people. Over the years grants have been awarded to a wide variety of groups and charities including e.g. a pre-school playgroup for children with autism, organisations helping people with health problems or physical and learning disabilities, support for a dyslexia support group, a disability awareness group, a local bereavement support group, a youth group in a deprived part of the borough and the Hospital Radio Service at DRI. Groups who have received or applied for grants from us in the past are welcome to apply again.

You can find out more about the club and the Community Grant Scheme on this Web Site.  It is important that any beneficiaries are local to the Doncaster Borough area and that they can demonstrate how they can use such money to 'make a difference' and be accountable for any money they are given. The grants will in the end be decided by the Trustees of the Club’s Charity Fund but if you would like to enquire further about the possibility of our Club helping you to help the people of Doncaster then do get in touch with me. Our Club looks forward to making a difference for your organisation or group so that you can make a difference for others. Please contact me by phone or email as soon as possible to obtain an application form and please ensure that completed forms are returned to me by 31st March 2010. We hope to make our decisions about this year’s grants during May and to award them at a meeting of the Club in June.

Keep up the good work you are doing on behalf of the people of Doncaster!