DOZENS of people in the Okehampton area will have access to new learning opportunities thanks to a grant of £3,576 to Okehampton Community Education Department's 'Stepping On' Project.

The money from the National Lottery's Awards for All programme will allow the project to offer taster courses to people in the community who are disabled, over the age of 50, unemployed, living on low incomes or in rural isolation.

Project leader Christine Munkenbeck said the idea was to give learning opportunities to people who would, for one reason or another, not normally take them up.

'A wide range of subjects will be available but, most importantly, will be provided according to what these people themselves request,' she said. 'We anticipate that up to 100 people could benefit from this lottery award which I am really thrilled about.'

Mrs Munkenbeck added that many of the people who took part in 'Stepping On' taster courses became more confident as a result.

'We hope that people who have not had the experience before will come along and develop the self-esteem to move on to other learning opportunities in the future,' she said.

'Stepping On' is one of the projects developed by the Okehampton Community Education department to improve the quality of life and opportunities for people living in rural areas.

The project has already been working in Hatherleigh and Bratton Clovelly where parents with children at playgroup have had access to computers on site to learn basic skills and WI members have learned dowsing and yoga.

Adults with learning disabilities at the Leaze Day Centre in Okehampton have been learning pottery, Tai chi and reflexology and are about to link up with Okehampton Youth Hostel to do some outdoor activities. Mrs Munkenbeck has also been working with the Old Theatre Project which cares for adults with mental health difficulties.

'In the case of yoga it can help with sleeping difficulties and if people sleep better they feel better and are more inclined to go out and do other things,' she said.

Anyone who feels they could benefit from the 'Stepping On' project should contact Christine on 01837 53800 for more information.