A tiny village in Teignbridge has distributed £9,500 to charities around Teignbridge as a result of its fundraising efforts.

Ashcombe Village Club runs events throughout the year, including clay shooting, a village fete, the Ashcombe Olympics and a horse and dog show.

At last week’s Ashcombe Village Club annual general meeting held at Ashcombe Village Hall, the committee distributed the proceeds of its fundraising efforts between carefully chosen charities, farming funds and local groups ranging from Dementia UK to the local church.

Reflecting the village’s rural location, the biggest beneficiary this year was the Addington Fund, which received a cheque for £2,500. Originally set up to help farmers after swine flu and the foot and mouth outbreak, the fund, which held a charity breakfast at Ashcombe Village Hall in the spring, continues to help farmers in need.

A cheque for £1,500 went to the village church, St Nectan’s to help with ever increasing maintenance costs. The Grade 1 listed church recently held a restoration morning to help look after the 766-year-old building.

Dawlish Gardens Trust, which helps look after the churchyard and grounds as well as plants at the village hall, was given £1,000.

Another £1,000 went to Yellow Wellies Farm Safety charity, in recognition of the help they gave to the local Young Farmers group after two of their members passed away in a road traffic collision before Christmas.

Devon Air Ambulance also received a donation of £1000 while the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, Dawlish Scouts, Little Valley Animal Shelter, Hector’s House cat rescue and Dementia UK were given donations of £500 each.

A monthly bingo evening at Ashcombe Village Hall raises additional funds, which go to Dawlish Community Transport, AIMS Dawlish, the Strand Centre and Dawlish Talking Newspapers.

‘For a little wooden hut in the middle of a tiny village with only 60 residents we don't do too badly,’ commented Sara Cartwright from the Village Club committee.