AGE Concern Okehampton and Torridge and Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade are the two latest organisations to benefit from Okehampton Town Council's grant aid scheme.

The scheme supports local organisations, charities and community groups benefitting the people of Okehampton with grants of up to £500.

The council granted Age Concern Okehampton and Torridge £400 to help with printing costs for a newsletter recruiting clients and volunteers in Okehampton.

Cllr Terry Cummings said: 'Knowing the work that Age Concern does to help people of all ages, not just the elderly, I think that a donation of £400 is well worthwhile.'

Okehampton and District Chamber of Trade applied for a £2,000 grant to support the improvement and replacement of the town's Christmas lights, and for hanging baskets for the town centre.

The rules of the grant aid scheme dictate that a grant can not exceed £500. However, the council was keen to support the Chamber of Trade, and gave the maximum allocation allowed.

Cllr Cummings said: 'We are here to help the town. If we don't put £500 toward this we are failing in our duty as a council. However, we cannot put in more than the £500 allowed.'

Grant applications for the Okehampton Running Bugs group and Victim Support are being deferred while the council contacts both groups for more information about their applications.

Victim Support applied for money to help with volunteer training, while Okehampton Running Bugs applied for money to purchase skipping ropes and agility ladders.

Applications from the social club Okehampton Friendly Circle was rejected, as was an application from the town council's own parks committee.

The Friendly Circle applied for £160 to pay for transport to their Christmas dinner at Fingle Glen. The council rejected the application on the grounds that the group is a social club with a membership fee.

Cllr Charles Letchford said: 'Many other social clubs pay for their own trips with membership fees or from their own pocket, the Friendly Circle should be no different.'

The parks committee applied for a grant to help move an unused phone box into Simmons Park so it can be used as a notice board.

However, councillors felt they could not use the grant money for a council project, and money should be found from the town precept.

If you feel your organisation could benefit from the council's grant aid scheme, contact the town hall on 01837 53179.