OKEHAMPTON'S job club and OCRA are two of several organisations to receive a vital boost thanks to Okehampton United Charity's latest round of grants.

At their latest meeting, trustees of the charity awarded four grants to local groups.

The job club, based at the Ockment Centre, has been granted £4,433 to ensure its continuation until September 2013. The club helps people to write CVs, search for jobs online and rebuild confidence through improving interview techniques.

OCRA has been allocated £22,000 to support its ongoing sports work in the Okehampton area. The organisation runs sports activities for people of all ages, co-ordinates the town's sports and fitness festival, and is currently spearheading the sport pavilion project.

Last year the charity donated £200,000 for the pavilion project. The trustees have received a tour of the facility, still in construction, to see what the money has helped to build.

Okehampton Battle of the Bands received a grant of £3,000 to help stage this year's event.

The not-for-profit Meldon Viaduct Company Ltd was allocated £5,000 to contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the structure until 2018.

At the meeting, trustees of the OUC and Okehampton Educational Foundation agreed the annual reports and financial statements for the year ending December 31 2012. Last year, OUC and OEF donated £564,700 of grants to support local causes. These included £62,246 donated to support sports and recreation, £104,078 for community services, and £25,220 towards the arts and museum.

Trustees of Okehampton Educational Foundation noted Okehampton Primary has requested permission to release £20,000 of its allocation to contribute to the provision of an after-school club, and that Okehampton College's allocation was currently £25,000.

The foundation has received and agreed seven individual applications to support students residing within Okehampton and its hamlets to continue with further education, sporting excellence and art excellence since January.