A CHARITY that gives grants to young people entering into apprenticeships, local individuals in need and local groups is inviting requests for grants.

The Charities of Holditch and Others was established in February 1905 to support the poorer residents of Okehampton and its hamlets Brightley, Southcott, Meldon and Stockley and to support people under the age of 24 entering into apprenticeships.

The charity has continued awarding grants annually since its creation and in the winter of 2014, trustees awarded grants to support 19 individual residents of Okehampton and grants to seven local groups — Okehampton and District Community Transport Group, OCRA, the Ockment Centre, the Ockment Centre Work Club, Fulfilling Lives, Community Links SW and the Okement Rivers Improvement Group.

The trustees are meeting in January 2015 to consider requests for grants from individuals and groups and would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to apply for support.

The charity's clerk Karen Percival said: 'We would like to raise our profile a bit as our number of individual applicants has been reducing year on year. If you think a grant from the Charities of Holditch and Others could help you, get in touch.'

If you are a resident of Okehampton and Okehampton Hamlets, are over 60 and in receipt of pension credit, please apply explaining your circumstances to The Clerk, Holditch, 15 Upper Crooked Meadow, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1WW. The deadline for these applications is Friday, January 9.

If you work for, or know of a local group, who would benefit from a grant under £1,000, please write to the clerk explaining what the group does and how it benefits residents of Okehampton and Okehampton Hamlets.