GRANT-giving charity the Craven Trust has come of age.

The organisation has been giving vitally-needed grants of a few hundred pounds each to community groups for the past 21 years.

Many village halls, sports clubs, church and youth groups have received grants of between £100 and £1,500 for grassroots projects.

Some of the smaller beneficiaries do not have the expertise to embark on the complicated process of applying for grants from better-known organisations, like the lottery.

Craven Trust staff, based at Central Hall in Alice Street, Keighley, offer one-to-one support in making applications, and trust members make personal visits to see the projects at first-hand.

The Craven Trust was established following a conversation during a welcoming party for the new Archdeacon of Craven.

Volunteers adopted a boundary based on the ancient diocese of Craven, encompassing Keighley the Yorkshire Dales and a small part of East Lancashire, incorporating both rural parishes and multi-cultural towns.

A large investment pot was raised through donations and legacies, and since then trustees have paid grants from interest on the fund.

The trust has given out £380,000 to 650 groups during the past 21 years, with £21,715 donated to 29 good causes in the past 12 months alone.

Trust chairman, Caroline Schwaller, one of the founder members, said: “This volunteer-led, hands-on trust prides itself on providing ‘local money for local needs’, ensuring our small grants make such a difference.”

The Craven Trust is keen to build up its endowment fund during its anniversary year, so it has more money available for the regular grant-giving.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation, support fundraising or apply for a grant should visit craventrust.org.uk or e-mail enquiries@craventrust.org.uk for more details.

lWhat do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail richard.parker@nqyne.co.uk or write to the Content Editor, Craven Herald, 38 High Street, Skipton BD23 1JU. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.