Santander �250k fund will boost charities

Sidmouth charities could benefit from a �250,000 fund launched by bank Santander this week.

The South West is the first region in the UK to benefit from the scheme.

The Santander Community Fund will provide grants of up to �5,000 for projects that help disadvantaged people.

The scheme is open to small local charities or local projects of national charities with funding available to cover salaries, equipment or materials. Charities must be registered in the UK.

Nominations can be made by visiting any Santander branch, like the one in Fore Street, Sidmouth, and completing a nomination form by October 12.

Entries will be considered by a panel of staff drawn from across the region with grants awarded in November.

Alison Varney, Santander’s divisional managing director, said: “We’re keen to hear about those small, local charities where a grant could make a real difference to help people.”

The Santander Community Fund is being piloted in the South West before being launched nationally in 2013 with a �1million fund.