YOUNGSTERS with the Prince's Trust Team programme battled the wind and rain last Thursday, all to help out Okehampton Foodbank.

The team spent six hours outside the town's Co-operative store collecting food and monetary donations for the charity.

Their efforts produced well over three trolley-loads of food, with the money raised still to be counted.

Team leader Alex Cooley said: 'The collection has been really good, despite this horrible weather.

'It is surprisingly how generous the community have been, they have been giving so much throughout the day.'

Pastor Jeff Jacobson of Okehampton Baptist Church and the foodbank, said: 'The foodbank really relies on donations to keep going, so we are really grateful for the work of these guys to help us out.

'We're giving away more than we are receiving, so donations like this are very important.

'The number of parcels we are giving away is going up, averaging about 13 a week. Last week we spiked up to 19 parcels, so there are still a lot of people out there who need our support.'

The Team programme for 16 to 25 year olds is a 12 week personal development course run by the Prince's Trust.

The project offers young people the chance to improve their career opportunities through two weeks of work experience, career advice, community projects, and practical skills.

Participants also get to take part in an action-packed residential week on Dartmoor, and at the end of the programme will have a nationally recognised qualification that could improve employment options.

As part of the community projects aspect of the programme, the team has also helped out at the Okehampton Community Garden, creating a sensory herb garden, made raised beds and constructed chicken coops and a storage shed.

This week, the team have been at the Made-Well community project at West Fishleigh Farm.

The project runs a community food growing project which provides training, support and employment opportunities for disadvantaged or marginalised members of society. The project aims to encourage participation by people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The youngsters have been put into small teams to work on cooking, looking after animals, woodwork, and other tasks.