Okehampton College is preparing to welcome everyone in the town and surrounding villages to a well-being event at the college this Saturday (October 23).

Organisers have joined forces with community organisers Everything Okehampton to stage a Rural Crafts and Community Day in a marquee set up in the sports hall from 10am-4pm.

The event, part of a weekend of activities, is free to attend and offers the chance to find out more about groups offering support, practical help and activities to join.

On the Sunday, meanwhile, OCRA (Okehampton Community Recreation Association) will be offering free sports taster sessions for children in the sports hall and outside on the cricket field in the park.

Executive principal Derrick Brett is organising the event with colleague Gill Tremain.

He said: ‘Post-Covid, we were aware that people needed to reconnect and we were anxious they should have an opportunity to do that other than online, both in terms of getting mental health support and being able to join clubs or find out about volunteering.

‘Originally we were going to do it in July but the situation with Covid didn’t go away and then we discovered that Everything Okehampton were planning their own event in October, so we decided to join forces with them.

‘We want as many people as possible to come along. The hardest thing can be to take that first step or make the first phone call so this an informal opportunity for people to find out what is going on in the town. Okehampton is a very vibrant town but people don’t always realise how much there is out there.’

There will also be a free music on the Saturday evening in the sports hall from 7pm, with the Okehampton Community Orchestra, Sticklepath sea shanty singers Mariners Away, The Wreckords and the TNT Blues Collective.

Among those who will have a stand at the Saturday event are Community Links South West, Tor Support Services, Okehampton Library, the Police Cadets, the Beekeepers’ Association, Devon CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), Farming Community Network, Made-Well, Christians Together, Digital Befriending, Guides and Brownies, Learn Devon, Men In Sheds, Okehampton Medical Centre, Step One Charity, West Devon CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) and Devon Carers. There will also be local craftspeople exhibiting their work.