PLAY areas, music groups, village halls, skate parks and a multitude of other good causes have received more than £350,000 in grants from West Devon Borough Council over the last four years. Community project, village hall, sport and arts grants have proved to be a huge help to organisations who want to maintain or bring in new facilities and activities to their area. Since 2003, the council has awarded more than £200,000 in grants to village hall groups, £110,000 to community projects, £30,000 in sport grants, and a further £20,000 to art projects. Schemes which have benefited from the community awards include Bere Ferrers play area (£5,000 awarded to match the £10,000 raised locally); Tavistock Area Support Services community minibus (£4,800) and Chagford Skate Park (£5,000). Yelverton Cricket Club was awarded £700 (with £5,000 raised locally) towards developing junior training facilities. An arts grant of £500 towards the Okehampton Battle of the Bands event provided an excellent opportunity for young people to benefit from musical performance, and event planning skills. Lamerton?s brand new village hall, recently opened, was awarded £40,000 by the council last year and acts as an education centre, providing training for young and old, as well as creating indoor and outdoor recreational facilities. The restoration of South Tawton?s 15th century Church House, a community building for the village, was awarded £5,000. Cllr Chris Jenkins, chairman of the council?s environment and community committee, which decides on what groups should receive the grants, said: ?These grants have brought tremendous benefits to the whole community and demonstrate how our council can deliver improvements and benefits across a diverse range of projects and activities. ?This is a great example of local government working with, and for, its community. ?I would encourage residents and community groups with interesting and challenging projects to come forward and find out how the council can help them.? If you would like more information about grants from West Devon Borough Council, contact West Devon projects officer Rob Sekula on 01822 813701.
