OKEHAMPTON United Charity will receive a total of more than £8-million from the sale of land in the town to Barratt and Belway Homes for development. Although the millions are not available for distribution, trustees say they will substantially increase the investment income available for the benefit of residents of Okehampton and the Hamlets. The charity was previously known as the Okehampton United Non Ecclesiastical Charity ? the words Non Ecclesiastical were inserted in 1906 to distinguish it from the Ecclesiastical Charity based in the town. The change of title back to an easier to use name is in anticipation of increased activity following the sale of the land for development purposes. The total sum the charity will receive is £8.1-million, half of which is due in 2007. Just over half of the net income is available for any charitable purpose and the remainder is distributed through the Okehampton Education Foundation. The foundation, which is administered by the same trustees, who give their time on a voluntary basis, makes educational grants for the benefit of young people up to the age of 24 who are resident in the same area. Grants made in the last 12 months have included the installation of new seating and projection equipment in the Octagon Theatre as well as support for the purchase of a new ambulance for St John. Fairplace and All Saints churches have received grants for refurbishment, and family activities have been supported through grants to Home-Start, Devon Youth Association and FLAG as well as other local organisations. Educational grants have been made to the college and primary school as well as the Get Changed Theatre which supports disabled youngsters. Individual grants have supported young people in further education for both academic and vocational studies. Richard Bryan, clerk to the trustees, said the charities intended to release information from time to time about their activities during the coming year, to keep residents better informed about their work. Details of the activities of both charities for 2005 are available in the trustees? report and accounts which are shortly to be filed with the Charity Commission. They can be viewed and downloaded from http://www.charity-commision.gov.uk">www.charity-commision.gov.uk under charity numbers 202686 and 306677.
