WREN Music, West Devon Junior Life Skills and the Fatherford Allotments Association are the three latest organisations to benefit from Okehampton Town Council's grant aid scheme.

At its policy and resources committee meeting last week, the council allocated £500 to both the Fatherford Allotments, and to West Devon Junior Life Skills while Wren Music was given £250.

The Fatherford Allotments Association applied for the full £500 available to help fund the purchase of a chemical toilet for the site on Fatherford Road. At the moment, the site has no toilet facility.

Neil Gilmore, vice-chair of the association, was present at the meeting to speak to councillors. He said: 'In this day and age, us not having a toilet facility is not acceptable. We have men, ladies and children up at the site, and providing a toilet to be used by everyone is normal practice in many allotments nowadays.'

The toilet to be purchased by the association will cost £1,292, providing disabled access for members of Puzzle Tree and other disabled people who use the allotments.

As well as the grant aid from the town council, the association has received funding from Okehampton United Charity and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council. Councillors voted unanimously to donate the full amount possible for the project.

The West Devon Junior Life Skills event was also given the full £500 allocation by the town council. The annual event teaches all Year 6 pupils from across West Devon vital new skills to keep themselves and others safe. Taking place at Okehampton Camp, youngsters face different simulated scenarios, learning to recognise danger and how to deal with emergency situations.

Cllr Christine Marsh said: 'I think West Devon Junior Life Skills is very important for our children, and it is important that they receive these experiences and learn these lessons.'

Wren Music also received £250 to help support its work holding events in the town. It runs a series of concerts, musical workshops and events throughout the year, preserving the heritage of traditional music.

Cllr Marsh said: 'Wren Music are important to the town and contribute a lot to major events on the town calendar.'

At the beginning of this financial year, the council allocated £12,000 to be distributed to organisations and charities benefitting the community following the election of town mayor Cllr the Rev Mike Davies.

The council now has £8,250 left to allocate.