Okehampton Town Council still has more than £20,000 in grant money available this financial year to help community interest groups.

The town council put aside a total of £37,358 for the 2021/22 year to help fund local community groups which play an important role in supporting Okehampton residents.

It was announced that over £17,000 had already been awarded to local community groups this financial year.

Since January, £500 has been awarded to the 1st Okehampton Rainbows and Brownies to fund a trip to Legoland and £500 to the Okement River Improvement Group for noticeboard repair and seat maintenance.

Five hundred pounds was also granted to Who Let the Dads Out for the cost of hall hire, refreshments, children’s activities and equipment for the running of the sessions.

Nearly £20,000 is still available for this financial year which will end in April. The council is now asking interested groups to hand in applications before February 21 in order to receive the money in time.

In the past, applicants have included Everything Okehampton which received £1,000 for the maintenance of the Christmas lights, the Meldon Viaduct Company which was granted £500 towards to go towards repairs and renewals and Ockment Centre Work Club which was given £497 to cover the cost of a new laptop.

The council has a larger grant budget than usual due to the lack of applications during the covid pandemic lockdowns but the budget is expected to return to its usual £29,000 in the coming financial year.

The council will only approve grants from voluntary, not-for-profit or charitable organisations that show they have an important part to play in the Okehampton community.

It also suggests that applicants apply to the Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council since many Okehampton residents now live in the Okehampton Hamlets parish.

For more information or to apply for a grant visit the council website at www.okehampton.gov.uk/grants.php.