TARKA Country Millennium Award winners from across West Devon will be getting together at a special event in Okehampton next week, celebrating the completion of the successful award scheme.
The award winners, who range in age from 13 to 80 plus, will have the opportunity to meet representatives from the Millennium Commission and those who made the scheme possible.
Kate Deaves, team co-ordinator for the Tarka Millennium awards, said: ?We are immensely proud of the success that has been achieved. The local economy has benefited too.
?We have encouraged award winners to spend their grants, which averaged £4,000, as locally as possible and this represents close to half a million pounds.
?This is over and above the community benefit, which is incalculable.?
Carin Cross, scheme team leader, said: ?There are many projects which have been funded across the Tarka Country area and they vary greatly from one-off exhibitions to permanent displays which will leave a lasting legacy for the scheme. Some 20 books have been published, leaflets, videos, newsletters and websites have been produced.?
The scheme was launched in September 2001. Since then, 134 individuals have carried out projects benefitting communities across the Tarka Country area.
John Hardy, chief executive of the Tarka Country Trust, said the awards scheme was ?unique?.
?Firstly it demonstrated the enormous untapped resources of local people. Secondly, it enabled individuals to achieve their own ambitions for the wider community and thirdly, it demonstrated that a small local charity can, with determination and enthusiasm, make a real difference to the community it serves.?
The award scheme was set up by the Tarka Country Trust, which led a 13-strong consortium including representatives from West Devon Borough Council, Dartmoor National Park Authority and The Countryside Agency. It was funded mainly with lottery money through the Millennium Commission.
Award winners will get together at the Charter Hall in Okehampton on May 13 at 6pm.