OKEHAMPTON College has been chosen as the town mayor's charity this year to help in its bid for technology college status.

Building a better future for the youth of the town will be the main focus of Cllr Christine Marsh's work in 2002 as she enters her fourth term.

At the mayor choosing ceremony in the town hall last Wednesday, Cllr Marsh described how a recent seminar at the college, with its exceptional workshops, presentations and refreshments, left her with very positive hope for the future.

'The young people are the future and this is why I have chosen to help the college this year,' she said. 'Thanks to the hard work of the principal Chris Powell, money has been secured to upgrade and expand the college but £50,000 is still needed from the private sector to help achieve technology college status.

'Some people may think the education budget should be funding these things but it is like everything in life, if we want the best we all have to be involved and it is essential that we do not get left behind.'

Technology college status would result in hundreds of thousands of pounds over the next five years and beyond for greater achievements in technology, maths, science and ICT and provide a programme of technical support in feeder primary schools.

Mr Powell said he was delighted the mayor had decided the college was worthy of being her chosen charity.

'This will not only bring money in directly to help us fund the bid but also raise the profile of the bid and the college as a whole,' he said.

'She has worked tirelessly on behalf of the college behind the scenes as a county councillor and I am very grateful personally for the support she has given me.'

The New Okehampton Hospital Appeal was the mayor's charity last year and at Wednesday's ceremony she presented a cheque for £5,000 to the cause.

She said Okehampton was not going to be a 'bog standard' hospital but a flagship community hospital and that was why the appeal was in place — to equip it with the highest standards of technology.

A cheque for £1,000 was also presented from the EX20 Lottery to OCRA towards a skate and BMX area in the town for the young people.