DEVON-based Villages in Action have been awarded £9,940 today by the Big Lottery Fund for their project 'Enhance'.

It is hoped the project will develop the skills of volunteers who work as promoters in villages across Devon, bringing high quality music and theatre events into the heart of their communities.

Enhance is one of 145 across the South West receiving grants today totalling over £1.2m from the Big Lottery Fund through its Awards for All scheme, which gives small grants to benefit communities and people most in need.

Villages in Action works with more than 300 volunteers in villages across the county who support communities to experience the arts on their doorstep.

Village events not only enrich their communities through new cultural experiences, but provide opportunities for old and young to connect with each other.

Villages in Action promoter Jane Wellens said:'Sometimes living in a village can mean that you are cut off from the mainstream, but having amazing performers coming into our village hall brings people together and we usually find that people are talking about the evening for months afterwards.

'It is those shared social experiences that are valuable connecting points for people in our village.'

The grant will enable eight development events to take place in 2015 that will enhance the skills of village promoters, enabling a broader approach to connecting with people in their communities.

Promoters will come together to share both triumphs and difficulties and to improve their skills in marketing and social media.

Over cups of tea and cake, village volunteers will be able to gain advice and support from each other and from social media specialists too.

Wendy Van der Plank, a promoter from Stockland ,said:?'I am desperate for some help and training in social media.

'I am realising that some of the people in my community who I am trying to reach may not see my local paper ads, posters and leaflets and that I need to communicate with them differently using social media and frankly, I just don't know how to do it.'

Roger Werner, director of Villages in Action, said 'This is a marvellous opportunity for us to support promoters, some of whom have been working in their rural communities for the last twenty years.

'We recognise the value of the community development work that takes place due to village events and that couldn't happen without our 300 volunteers.

'We want to enhance what they are already doing and find ways to bring more people together to experience live theatre, music and arts projects in their village halls.'