THE first donations from Okehampton Town Council's grant aid fund for the financial year have been decided.

North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team, the OCRA Okehampton Sports and Fitness Festival and the Okehampton Community Garden were the first organisations to benefit in the new financial year, each receiving the full £500 donation available.

Throughout the last financial year, the council distributed £10,000 to be distributed to local organisations and charities, with a donation cap of £500 per organisation.

Regularly reviewing the grants, the council aimed to spread the money as widely and wisely as possible.

For the new financial year, the council has allocated £12,000 for grant aid funding in an effort to support even more organisations. The £500 cap per organisation is still in place.

The Okehampton Community Garden will put their funding towards the purchase of a new polytunnel and their composting project.

North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team will use their money to help buy new ground rescue equipment, while the funding for OCRA will help to put on the annual festival that promotes a variety of sports for youngsters and adults alike.

OCRA also applied for funding to help with the Devon Games to Inspire, a prestigious youth sports event that will attract more than 1,000 youngsters from nine council areas to Okehampton in June to take part in 15 different sports.

The council is looking at other ways to support the event, as councillors were reluctant to over-rule their £500 grant aid cap.

The council has also released £500 to Okehampton Argyle Football Club, following its application in the previous financial year. The money will be put towards the purchase of a new grass-roller.