LOCAL community charity Okehampton Community Recreation Association (OCRA) has recruited a new sports and recreation manager to its team.

Following the departure of its long-standing manager Stuart Lord back in February after more than 20 years in the position, OCRA has recruited 37-year-old Ian Blythe to take over the role.

Ian, from Bradworthy, brings with him 15 years’ experience within the sports and leisure industry as general manager of 16 leisure centres in north Devon. He holds a degree in sports and exercise science and has experience in other areas of sport and fitness.

‘Running is my key passion,’ Ian said. ‘I’ve done a number of half marathons and 10ks locally and I’m a run leader for my local running group. I also teach pilates and some health and fitness classes.

‘I’m also into football and cricket but unfortunately working in the leisure industry means I don’t get many weekends free so I don’t get to play football or cricket as much as I’d like to but I like to watch it regularly. The cricket world cup has started so I’ll be keeping my eye on that.’

He said OCRA’s heavy involvement in the community is what appealed to him to apply for the job.

‘The variety of what OCRA delivers and how much it helps in the community is the key thing that drew me to the role,’ he said. ‘I knew it was an organisation that had so many right things in place for the community. My aim is to continue the incredible work that OCRA has done and I hope to increase opportunities for all to access the sporting recreational and wellness programmes offered for Okehampton and the surrounding community.

‘OCRA delivers everything from music projects, holiday schemes during school holidays, walking football and Tai Chi. It has very successful and popular trampoline and gymnastic clubs as well as the school sports role across the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust and Tavistock area primary schools.

‘I want to enhance what they have already been doing and try to build on that. I want to look at where we can assist with more social provision, working in partnership to signpost to other organisations and vice versa and offering more of a social hub for the groups involved in OCRA and the wider community.’

Ian said he would also like to concentrate on improving mental health and wellbeing by using more outside green space and getting people away from their busy and screen-led lives. He said he wanted to identify where there were gaps in provision and try to build on that in the future.

Ian officially started his role on May 20 and has been busy meeting everyone and getting his feet under the table.

‘OCRA is so well respected in the community and everyone has been so kind to me in my first couple of weeks. I’ve just been trying to pick everything up and get to know everyone.’

Ian lives in Bradworthy with his wife, two children and his dog and will be working full time at OCRA.