The Yes Tor Project, an Okehampton community support group, is planning to provide disadvantaged children with the opportunity to try out new activities from this week.

The organisation wish to give children the chance to experiment with new hobbies that their families may not be able to fund themselves and are giving a shout-out to anyone who may wish to use the service.

It is also hunting for extra funding for the new scheme.

Gideon Pritchard, the youth intervention officer for the Okehampton police and one of the project’s organisers, said: 'If you are struggling to either fund or access an activity, please get in touch.

’This is also extended to people seeking additional support for training, equipment to assist with training or employment.

’Alternatively, if you are thinking of running an activity and need funding for a boost to get going, please make us aware. We have a limited pot of funds available.’

Applicants must reside or do business in Okehampton and the funding is mostly for children under the age of 18 though the project may agree to fund young adults up to the age of 25 in certain circumstances.

The Yes Tor Project has also recently helped to establish a new youth group run by local organisation the Okehampton Community and Recreational Association (OCRA) in order to tackle the rise in anti-social behaviour which has been put down to bored young people.

The project was established by Derrick Brett, the executive principal at Okehampton College, in order to improve inter-generational relationships especially between the elderly and the young.

The scope of the project was subsequently expanded when Mr Brett realised it was a bigger problem than he initially thought. The project now also attempts to prevent anti-social behaviour in the community.