THE amazing work of the Okehampton United Charity and Okehampton Educational Foundation to support organisations and individuals in the community is to be celebrated at a special event on Wednesday, December 11.

The OUC and OEF have been awarding grants for the benefits of residents in Okehampton and Okehampton Hamlets since 1906.

The United Charity trustees have been able to continue to award grants this year, making 26 grants to local groups and individuals, donating a total of £170,000 in 2013.

The OEF has awarded 44 scholarships totalling £33,000 to support 16 to 24 year olds attending university or higher educational college for a Level 4 (FHEQ) or above qualification, and 28 bursaries to 16 to 24 year olds totalling £12,600 to assist with the costs of pursuing education or training courses relating to a professional trade, employment, or for entry to higher education.

The application process for scholarships and bursaries remains open until May 31, 2014.

Both Okehampton College and Okehampton Primary School benefit from an annual allocation to spend on items or projects not funded by local government.

The college has used its allocation to contribute to new ICT facilities, cashless catering and to go towards the installation of a new wind turbine.

The primary school used their allocation to contribute to the provision of a new after-school club building.

This work is to be celebrated at a special evening of celebration on December 11 from 7.30pm in the Simmons Park sports pavilion.

The building, which opened earlier this year, received substantial grants from the OUC to help make it a reality. The charity's trustees are hoping to bring together all the groups who received funding this year, and anyone from the town who would like to attend is more than welcome.

The informal evening provides local groups with the chance to demonstrate their work and update each other on their activities.

Allenton Fisher, chair of the OUC and OEF trustees, will give a short speech, and Stuart Lord of OCRA will offer an update on the latest news regarding the sports pavilion and OCRA.

If you would like to know more about either charity or to make an application please contact Karen Percival, the charities' clerk, on 01837 55179, e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] or visit the charity's website at http://www.okehamptoncharities.org.uk">www.okehamptoncharities.org.uk for more information.