DARTMOOR National Park Authority has awarded grants to a number of organisations in West Devon through the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund (DSDF).

Stonehouse Playspace Association — representing Princetown Pavilion Youth Club, Moretonhampstead Development Trust and Greentraveller Ltd — are three of four organisations to be awarded a portion of £36,380 of support from the DSDF.

Alison Kohler, director of conservation and communities at Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: 'The key highlight emerging from this latest round of the DSDF was the passion and commitment the applicants showed for supporting young people on Dartmoor. Although they have a beautiful landscape on their doorstep, young people in rural locations face many challenges.

'We hope that the projects supported will provide opportunities for some of the young people on Dartmoor to learn more skills and further experience the natural world around them.'

Pam Carter from Stonehouse Playspace Association, the manager at Princetown Pavilion youth club, wowed the panel with her commitment to the young people of Princetown and determination to help provide them with more opportunities.

The DSDF, supported by the Moor Active project, will work with 150 young people in Princetown and the surrounding area, to provide them with AQA qualifications to help them gain confidence and skills to enter employment. Courses will range from food hygiene and horticulture to health and safety and childcare. The project will also work closely with local businesses and voluntary organisations to ensure the skills being provided will match with opportunities available locally.

Moretonhampstead Development Trust, working with local artist Beth Hamer, gave a passionate presentation about their Access to Nature project. The project is inspired by recent research around nature deficit disorder, linked to an increase in childhood depression, anxiety and obesity, highlighting the link between a sharp rise in screen-time and lack of access to nature.

The project will work with young people to design and build a transportable structure from local natural materials. The structure will be able to be moved around woodland and moorland locations and used in workshops relating to wildlife education, art and outdoor play.

The DSDF panel also approved support for the online travel guide greentraveller.co.uk, which will pay for web pages to promote sustainable tourism within Dartmoor National Park, ranging from accommodation and local food providers to recreational activities and sustainable transport options.

Greentraveller will work closely with Dartmoor National Park Authority and Dartmoor Partnership to promote businesses which have been awarded Dartmoor First, an award which recognises businesses and organisations who are taking actions to be more sustainable.

The aim of the DSDF is to encourage and support individuals, community groups and businesses to develop practical, local projects that develop and test new ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living, which enhances and conserves local culture, wildlife, landscape and community.

The DSDF has £35,000 remaining to be awarded by the end of the financial year. Potential applicants should visit http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/DSDF">www.dartmoor.gov.uk/DSDF for more details.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, February 19 and any project ideas must have been discussed with the sustainable development officer in advance.