Young carers in Ottery are set to benefit from a £50,000 grant to help them gain cooking skills.

Axminster-based HALFF scooped the five-figure sum in The People’s Projects – a joint ITV/Big Lottery Fund initiative where a public vote decides who receives a donation.

The healthy eating charity provides monthly cooking sessions for young carers in Honiton, Otter St Mary, Axmouth and Sidmouth.

It applied for the money to extend two of its services, including its youth sessions run with Switch East Devon and cooking sessions with Devon Young Carers.

Charity director Tiggy Parry said she was ‘absolutely thrilled’ with the cash award towards its ‘changing lives through food’ project.

The scheme will help 313 youngsters, including 30 from Ottery and 60 in Sidmouth, to learn how to cook for themselves and their families as well as giving them respite from their caring responsibilities.

Anna Collins from Devon Young Carers said; “I am over the moon at this result and am so pleased the positive work HALFF do with young people, so they can continue and thrive.

“These sessions are so important for the young people I work with. They teach the children really healthy, cheap, simple and easy recipes and are brilliant at providing young people with practical, useful skills.

“I have seen a big development and growth in a lot of the children which has been lovely to see.”

Tiggy Parry, director of HALFF, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the result, which will enable us to help so many children. We are so pleased that we have been able to work with all the communities involved, and that they have helped support the programme by voting for this project. I would like to say a huge thank you to all those who voted, and encouraged their friends and colleagues to do the same.”