A WHOLE host of sporting and fun activities is on offer for young people in Okehampton and nearby villages.

It has come about thanks to a £2,000 grant to the Okehampton Community Recreation Association (OCRA).

The OCRA Action Club has been awarded the money by the Big Lottery Fund and West Devon Borough Council to help with its new two-hour after-school club, which encourages young people to take part in outdoor activities.

The club will visit villages and offer the equipment and space to create play and a free choice of activities for up to two hours.

OCRA will bring a wide range of sporting equipment to the club, including a varied range of art materials for children and young people to create their own masterpieces.

There will be sport-specific coaches for fencing and archery, den and tent building tarpaulin, multi circus skills equipment and where possible, bushcraft skills.

The club will use play spaces, parks and local primary school grounds as a base. Qualified members of OCRA will be on hand to support children in the activities they choose.

Activity co-ordinator for OCRA Suzanne Doidge said the project was open to all children.

'Everyone is welcome to join in with the activities, but they have to be of primary or secondary school age, to help us with the numbers.

'We are very excited to be involved with this project and have already begun the club in many of the villages with 276 different children attending so far.'

Mrs Doidge said the project was all about giving young people the opportunity to enjoy activities in a safe environment.

'It's great we are taking the activities to the villages, getting the youngsters outside and active.'

The club will run in the villages and Okehampton until the week ending Friday, July 17.

Registration forms are required for children of primary school age and are available from participating schools.

Students at Okehampton College are invited to come along when the buses drop them back into their villages.

The time and location OCRA Action Club will be in villages is as follows:

• Boasley Cross Primary School on Mondays from 3pm to 5pm, for Years 4, 5, and 6 and for college students. This club will finish on Monday, June 22.

• Lydford Primary School on Mondays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm meeting at the primary school. The park will be used when possible, for Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 and college students.

This club will start from Monday, June 15.

• Northlew Primary School on Tuesdays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the school, using the park when possible, for Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 and for college students.

• Lew Trenchard Primary School on Tuesdays from 3.30 pm to 5.30pm at the school, using Alder Lake when possible, for Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 and college students.

• North Tawton Primary School on Wednesdays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the school, for Years 5 and 6 and college students.

• Bridestowe Primary School on Wednesdays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the school, for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 and college students.

• Chagford Primary School on Thursdays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at the school for Years 5 and 6 and college students. This club will start Thursday, June 4.

• South Zeal Recreation Ground on Fridays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

OCRA will pick up from South Tawton Primary School and escort the children to the recreation ground.

The club is for Years 5 and 6 and college students.

• Hatherleigh Primary School, to be held on the Hatherleigh Football Club grounds on Fridays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, for Years 5 and 6 and college students.

OCRA will pick up from the school and escort the children to the grounds,

The club will also be at Parklands Leisure Centre from 6pm to 8pm.

There is limited space, with 50 children already at the venue.

To book a place and for more information phone OCRA on 01837 54546.