OKEHAMPTON and District Squash Rackets Club has received one of the highest grants in the latest round of funding from the Lottery Awards for All scheme.
The grant of £4,381 will be used to promote the game through junior participation, create more coaches, develop school links and purchase new equipment.
Club coach Martin Leyton said taster sessions would be run during and after school times to encourage youngsters to take up the sport.
?The problem with squash has been that it has always been a bit of a minority sport ? it is not televised and not traditionally played in state schools only private schools,? he said.
?Squash is a great sport that gets the adrenaline going and it is very energetic ? we hope by introducing it to more people, club participation will grow.?
The intention is to run more competitions in the future and get a junior team up and running.
Part of the funding will pay for a coaches? course to increase the number of people at the club who can teach squash.
Okehampton Squash Rackets Club has recently started a junior session on Saturday mornings and ladies session on Thursday mornings and held a handicap competition to promote the game.
It is one of 196 South West community groups and organisations who are celebrating cash awards this week.
The Awards for All scheme is about funding projects which extend access and participation, increase skills and creativity and improve quality of life in the region.
Senior awards officer Steve Barriball said: ?It?s all about getting Lottery money to grass roots groups and organisations with grants of between £500 and £5,000.
?We are particularly interested in seeing applications from disadvantaged rural and urban communities and market and coastal towns in the region.?