THE first winners of Devon community project grants have been announced, with a public meeting to be held in Princetown next month to encourage people in West Devon to apply.

The Tarka Country Millennium Awards scheme makes available cash grants between £2,000 and £6,000 to individuals with ideas for non-profit projects which will benefit their community.

Anyone over the age of 12 can apply for an award that must fit one of the three main themes — conservation and restoration, social and cultural and ideas for the future. Projects could include events, exhibitions, plays, crime reduction schemes or making sustainable products.

Three people from North Devon, shared £14,000 in the first round of awards. The three chosen projects will make specialised bicycles for disabled children; set up a bereavement group for children and produce information material on the Great Torrington Commons.

Cllr Derick Spear, chairman of the awards, said: 'We are delighted to have our first three award winners and each one represents an extremely worthy cause. These are just the tip of the iceberg. We have lots of money to give away to people with good ideas.'

Anyone is invited to attend the meeting, particularly those with an idea they would like to discuss with the Tarka millennium awards team.

A short presentation will be followed by questions and answers with refreshments on offer. The public meeting will be held at Wesley House, Princetown, on November 7, from 7pm.

The Tarka Country Millennium Awards were set up by the Tarka Country Trust and backed by the Millennium Commission with lottery funds and supported by 13 various organisations across the private and public sector.

'Help us, to help you, help your community,' is the slogan of the Tarka country millennium awards, and there is a dedicated support team to give any help required when making an application.

Awards will pay for 100 per cent of the project costs, which could include training, workshop sessions, equipment, transport, accommodation and demonstration costs to encourage award winners to show their projects to other people who might wish to replicate their ideas.