WORKSHOP and other activities in Okehampton for young singers have been assured, thanks to a grant of £1,360 from the Okehampton Educational Foundation.

The grant has been given to Okehampton Youth Chorus Support Group for its ongoing programme to enable young people to develop singing, music and performance skills with guidance from professional artists and singers.

Derek Webber, chairman of the Okehampton United Charity presented the cheque to the Okehampton Youth Chorus Support Group at the end of last month.

Mr Webber said: 'Our Okehampton Educational Foundation is delighted to support youth activities.

'It's the youngsters who are Okehampton's future. We feel that anything that can bring young people together is worth supporting.'

The Okehampton Youth Chorus is open to all young people between the ages of eight and 18.

There are no auditions, all are welcome, whether they have sung before or not, and there is no need to read music.

Joining the chorus is not a competition and there are no judges.

There are weekly singing sessions on Wednesday afternoons from 3.45 to 5.15pm held in Okehampton Baptist Church in Fore Street.

The sessions give young people the chance to find their voices, to sing and to really enjoy making music together, and are £3.50 per week.

The songs come from around the world, and are non-religious.

Some songs come from England, some from South Africa, from America, and elsewhere. There will also be chances to write songs and to perform.

Currently, OYC members are learning a specially-written suite of songs, which will be premiered at this year's Baring-Gould Folk Festival in Okehampton on October 25.

The suite, written by the young singers themselves with assistance from professional composers from Wren Music, reflects the journey of a young orphan woman through a rural landscape and the challenges she meets — by turns scary, deep and hilarious.

Further information on Okehampton Youth Chorus is available from 01837 53754.