Ottery Help Scheme has received more than £12,000 to help promote awareness of the charity thanks to co-operation by several local councils.

Under the ‘Parishes Together’ initiative, cooperation between parishes in Devon attracted funding for worthy causes.

Devon County Council leader John Hart pledged £1 per member of electorate covered by the scheme, and East Devon District Council an additional 10 pence.

Ottery mayor Glyn Dobson led a scheme with the support from the parishes of Aylesbeare, Feniton, Gittisham, Rockbeare, Talaton, Buckerell, Newton Poppleford and Harpford.

The councils agreed to fund the Ottery Help Scheme with a 12-month project to identify who may need support, who would like to start volunteering, and who would like to donate.

The idea went before a panel at the district council and was approved to the tune of £12,714.

Cllr Dobson handed over a cheque to Jane Davies, the scheme’s co-ordinator, last week.

She said: “We want to reach out to everyone and ‘give a little help when it is needed most’.

“The reason we have not been able to reach out to more people is that we do not have the capacity to do so.

“The ‘Spotlight on Ottery Help Scheme’ project will support us to make this happen.”