A LONG-awaited project supporting young people in rural areas around Hatherleigh has received a huge boost, in the form of a £60,000 cash grant. The money from the Tudor Trust means the Hatherleigh Area Project can recruit two part-time youth development workers, covering the whole of the 13 parishes within the area. Noel Cartwright, Hatherleigh Project co-ordinator, said the new funding, together with a previous smaller grant from the Lottery?s Awards for All programme, meant the project was now ready to go full steam ahead. He said: ?We mean to combat rural isolation for young people by providing an activity programme across the 13 parishes and to provide access to facilities dedicated to young people. ?The youth workers will be able to provide signposting to services, including advice and information, counselling, drugs and sexual health education, that already exist ? and also develop activity programmes suited to young people?s needs.? Mr Cartwright said the youth workers would also act as fundraisers, implementing some of the project?s ideas developed during a consultation with young people last year. ?There are about 700 young people aged 11 to 24 in the Hatherleigh area and of these, about 500 live in the surrounding, rurally isolated parishes, often without adequate public transport links. ?It will be the job of the youth workers to reach out to these more isolated young people, to provide them with access to services, and to entertaining and challenging activities.? Cllr Dennis Bater, of West Devon Borough Council, who is chairman of the project, said: ?I?m hoping this will really make a difference to the young people in the area. ?We have a lot of groups like the cricket club, the football club, the Players, who all do excellent work, but I hope this project will help the youngsters that aren?t involved in this type of group. ?It will be good if they take advantage of the opportunities the project will be offering.? The Hatherleigh Area Project was set up in 2002 as a Market and Coastal Towns Initiative, supported by the South West Regional Development Agency. It covers the parishes of Hatherleigh, Broadwoodkelly, Bratton Clovelly, Beaworthy, Exbourne, Germansweek, Highampton, Iddesleigh, Inwardleigh, Jacobstowe, Meeth, Monkokehampton and Northlew. For more information about the project, call 01837 810239 or e-mail hatherleighareaproject @btconnect.com