CHILDREN in Okehampton and the surrounding area are to benefit from a £152,000 Millennium present from the Lottery for out-of-school activities.

Okehampton College is one of two colleges in Devon to be awarded a grant from the lottery's New Opportunities Fund.

Principal Philip Herriman said it was great news and the money would help to build on what the college was already doing.

The funds are for a joint scheme between the college and its 11 feeder primary schools. Activities will include sports, arts, special interest activities and study support.

Mr Herriman said: 'We had an education extra award for after-school sports activities that has recently run out so this new grant is excellent.

'We were hopeful that we would get something but you never know with so many bidding for the money.'

Children from primary schools will be encouraged to participate in activities going on at the college and some of the funds will go towards providing transport and extra staffing.

In larger primary schools like Chagford, North Tawton and Hatherleigh, satellite study centres will be set up.

Mr Herriman said a homework club at the college, which had been running for two years, was very successful and one of its aims was to get parents involved in their children's work as well as help pupils to achieve better results.

'The better the school gets on with the parents the better the children perform in school — it is very simple really,' he said.

'It is nice to think that something educational has got some money — all the staff are delighted.

'This money will help children get interested in all aspects of life including leisure activities and for many this can be a springboard for academic achievement later on.

'The more interests children have, the more interesting they become, more opportunities are open to them and they do not run the risk of becoming bored.'

Mr Herriman said the college would be discussing with the primary schools how the money would be used but some of the projects on the list include extending the opening hours of the College Learning Resource Centre, setting up a summer school for year six pupils with the objective of raising self-esteem in both literacy and numeracy through a combination of formal learning, sporting and leisure activities, and having regular meetings for parents of year ten and eleven pupils to help advise on study skills and exam preparation.

Headteacher of North Tawton Primary School Neil Hallam said: 'We are delighted the bid has been successful and we are looking forward to developing links with the college.'

Holsworthy Community College was the only other education establishment in Devon to receive a slice of the £797,819 granted to projects in the South West.

Okehampton College has also received a Millennium Festival Award of £2,383 to buy wetsuits and rigs for its out-of-school windsurfing club.