AN OKEHAMPTON play scheme has received a big boost thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The grant will enable OCRA Action, an outreach play scheme organised by the Okehampton Community Recreation Association, to take games and equipment out to around ten different villages in the northern area of West Devon.

It is one of four key schemes across West Devon set to benefit from the grant, which totals £200,000.

West Devon councillor Christine Marsh, who, together with Cllr Mandy Govier is a Youth Champion for the borough council, said: 'The really exciting thing about these projects is that no child will have to travel miles to take part. All the activities are being delivered on the children's doorsteps.'

Cllr Govier added: 'We are delighted to have won this substantial award from the Big Lottery Fund.

'It recognises the importance that play has on children and young people's health, well-being and social development.'

OCRA's Stuart Lord said: 'OCRA has worked for many years in the northern area of West Devon and has seen just how crucial it is to have free play opportunities for young people in their own community.

'The funding will enable us to expand our outreach service into the rural communities around Okehampton providing these activities to more children and encouraging young people to get active.

'We're really excited by it. It's a fantastic project and it will really allow us to create something successful.

'It's the culmination of a lot of successful projects coming together and when talking about "play" we mean as many things that include sport, art, dance, adventure and creating environmental awareness.

'The activities will be shaped by the young people that attend and we'll use a variety of play parks and different activity spaces such as wilderness areas, skate parks and sports areas.'

The three other projects are:

l The Rural Youth Outreach Project run by Devon Youth Service which offers challenging opportunities, including canoeing and abseiling

l The Playing Up scheme run by the older members of Tavistock Youth Café who will deliver play days to younger children in isolated communities in the southern area of West Devon

l The Princetown Opportunity for Play project from the Higher Moorland Community Action (HMCA) Team, which will feature play days and holiday activities, including subsidised days out for children in the Princetown area.

All the projects are among key actions in the borough council's play strategy aimed at improving opportunities for play for children and young people of all age groups.

Gill Till, children and young people's officer for West Devon and South Hams Councils, said: 'We have been able to secure this money due to the huge support from Jane Hembrow at Play England. Joint partnership working between West Devon and South Hams has enabled us to use different skills and experiences to realise this award.'

Pippa St John-Cooper from Devon Youth Service said: 'West Devon is a beautiful area. However, many young people never have the opportunity to experience the wealth of outdoor play opportunities available, through a variety of barriers. This funding offers the opportunity to change that.'

Russell Pember from HMCA said: 'The funding will enable us to deliver vital play opportunities giving bored youngsters something interesting and challenging to do in the holidays.'