W H SMITH COMMUNITY GRANTS - Bracnhes in Welshpool, Newtown and Brecon

The WHSmith Trust is an independent registered charity that aims (a) to support good causes in the local communities where WHSmith has stores, and (b) to promote literacy and a love of reading.

There are 96 WHSmith stores in the South West alone, covering the vast majority of towns with a population of over 10,000.

To find out if there’s a WHSmith store near you, visit the company's Store Finder.

The WHSmith Community Grants scheme is another example of how the 5p plastic carrier bag levy is benefiting local communities up and down the country.

The scheme offers grants of up to £500 to voluntary organisations and schools from the proceeds of the compulsory carrier bag levies across the UK.

Grants are awarded every six months to charities, schools and community groups of any size, provided they support UK communities.

The following community groups may apply for a WHSmith Community Grant:

o Registered or Exempt Charities;
o Constituted voluntary and community groups; and
o Schools and pre-school playgroups.

The following are not eligible for funding:

o Party political organisations;
o Religious organisation;
o Military organisations;
o Individuals; or
o Expeditions or overseas travel.

There are two annual application rounds:

o 1st April to 30th September, and
o 1st October to 31st March.

At the end of each six month period grant applications are reviewed and grants issued.

If a grant application is successful, a cheque made payable to the nominated charity or school will be sent to the applicant at their given postal address.

Cheques will be dispatched within a month of the end of each application round.

Any funds left unallocated at the end of each six month application round will be donated to UK charities as part of theWHSmith Trust’s wider grant making activity.

The application form, which is very short, can be completed on theWHSmith Community Grants webpage.  

(Source: GRIN)