OKEHAMPTON United Charity has awarded grants worth thousands of pounds in the last few weeks.

At their February meeting trustees awarded grants, including £12,000 to Okehampton and District Community Transport Group to help with its running costs; £375 for Okehampton Medical Centre’s patient participation group to contribute to the purchase of a hyfrecator; £700 for Okehampton Friendly Circle for the coming year and £160 for Okehampton Tennis Club for new adult rackets for the Back to Tennis sessions planned for 2016. Tor Support Services received £960 to contribute to the service’s admin costs and two local individuals under 24 received bursaries to support their further education.

At its meeting on January 27, the charity awarded £950 to the Parkinson’s Group and £500 to Okehampton Community Archive Group to support their respective annual running costs; £950 to Dartmoor Railway Supporters’ Association for essential safety equipment and £200 for Okehampton Men in Sheds to contribute to planning requirements for its proposed shed.

Two university students received scholarships of £750 to contribute to their annual costs and a local musician performing in national orchestras received a £450 grant to contribute to her costs.

Okehampton College received £10,000 from its allocation to supply new tablet computers for the library.

£500 was awarded to the Queens 90th birthday party celebration to contribute to the running costs of the event.