Gatwick Airport has relaunched a scheme offering community groups funding.

The Gatwick Foundation Fund was suspended during the pandemic but has been relaunched.

Now, community projects in Sussex can apply for funding.

A total of £300,00 is available each year, with £100,000 allocated to groups in Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

 “We feel tremendously proud to be back in a position where we can offer grants to so many worthwhile community projects across our region,” said Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at Gatwick Airport.

The grants are available for projects that support young people, improve health and wellbeing and tackle social isolation and disadvantage.

The fund is designed to distribute the economic benefits that the airport generates to local people and communities that may not benefit directly from other economic contributions the airport brings.

Ms Wrighton added: “The work these community groups do is invaluable to local residents who directly benefit and we welcome applications from all projects that meet the wide-ranging criteria.”

Gatwick’s Foundation Fund was launched in late 2016. To date a total of £1.2 million has been distributed in 236 grants, benefiting thousands in Sussex.