Okehampton music charity, Wren Music, has received a grant of £30,000 as part of the Cultural Recovery Fund, a government grant to help cultural organisations get back on their feet after the covid pandemic.

The money will allow the charity to continue its work in Devon which brings folk music to a wide range of communities including special needs schools, socially isolated people and those interested in the history and culture of folk music.

Amy Wilson, development officer at Wren Music, said: ’We are delighted to receive the funding. Without it we wouldn’t be here. When we had to shut down in the pandemic, we would have to shut down forever if not for this funding.

’We are particularly excited by this funding because it means Arts Council England and the DCMS [Department for Culture, Media and Sport] view us as culturally significant.

The charity will also use the money to encourage individuals to put aside covid fears and get back out into the community in an effort to tackle the rise in mental health issues during the pandemic.

Ms Wilson said: ’People are worried about the pandemic but we are seeing the mental health implications of staying at home. We are trying to encourage people to come out of their homes.’

As part of its upcoming plans, it will hold free concerts in Okehampton, Exeter, Paignton and Honiton and host a free wassailing event in Okehampton.

The event will take place on January 9, 2022 from 4-6pm at Okehampton Community Garden.

Wassailing, meaning ’good health’ in Old English, is the ancient Twelfth Night custom of singing to apple trees to wish them a good year’s harvest which has been practised in Britain for centuries.

Anyone interested can download the songs from the charity’s website and learn them before the event.

Creative director and chief executive of Wren Music Marilyn Tucker said: ’It’s nice to have something in January, to have something to lift you and take you into the natural cycle and the promise of spring.

’The shortest day of the year will already have passed by then.’

Okehampton Cinema and Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre in Lifton have also received grants of £34,586 and £70,000 respectively in the third round of the Cultural Recovery Fund.

For more information on Wren Music and its work visit www.wrenmusic.co.uk