A SHARE of £10,000 is up for grabs for lucky local charities as they are invited to apply for part of a donation from the Swindon Hilton this month.

As part of its Great Swindon Giveaway, the hotel is looking to create opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people in Swindon and surrounding areas.

The giveaway, supported by the Adver and Swindon 105.5, will invite charities in and around Swindon to apply for part of the grant.

The shortlist decided by a panel of Team Members at Hilton Swindon and the winners announced on October 10 at the hotel.

Simon Sheehan, director of Hilton in the Community Foundation, said: “I am delighted we will be able to help an array of charities in Swindon.

“Hilton in the Community Foundation has supported charities in the area for over 10 years and the giveaway will be a great opportunity to help even more local causes to give children and young people exciting new prospects.”

Together Hilton Swindon and Hilton in the Community Foundation’s work with the local community has resulted in a total of 22 grants worth £48,732 being awarded to local charities including the Amber Foundation, Brimble Hill Special School and Fairfield Farm College.

Steve Rycroft, hotel manager, said: “The scheme is working across the country, and the hotel has raised money from a variety of fundraising activities for our employees and putting our hands in our own pockets.

“One of these initiatives is to go around the world in a day, where employees from each hotel will walk, cycle or swim to raise money.

“Each hotel has it’s own nominated charity, which for Swindon is the Amber Foundation.”

Mark Dixon, C&E sales executive at Hilton Swindon, said: “Amber helps young people between six and 26 who may have come across problems in life, whether it is drug abuse or broken families.

“They will take them in for three to six months.

“The £10,000 is open for new charities to apply for as long as they are within Swindon and the surrounding areas supporting children and young people up to the age of 25.

“We will consider applications for between £300 to £5,000, so the money could go to just a couple of charities or to a host different ones.”

Application forms are available from now until Friday, August 30, with the deadline for submissions Saturday, August 31.

To apply for a grant, forms can be downloaded from https://www.hiltonfoundation.org.uk, and returned via email to mark.dixon@hilton.com.