Three Island cricket clubs have been bowled over by the awards they have received in this year’s round of grants from Island Roads’ Isle of Wight Foundation.
The Island’s search and rescue organisation WightSAR and Age UK Isle of Wight have also been awarded foundation funding in the latest grant awards from the foundation, made up of the companies behind Island Roads – Ringway Island Roads, Meridiam, Island Roads Services and Vinci Concessions.
Supporting cricket clubs
Arreton Cricket Club, which has become a designated Disability Cricket Hub, received £16,000 for a new artificial wicket at its Haseley Lane ground, while a joint bid from Porchfield and Island Bakeries cricket clubs for improved shower and toilet facilities received £7,525.
Those clubs are aiming to improve the cricketing experience for junior players using their Coleman’s Lane club and improving accessibility for all participants at cricket and other social events held at the venue.
Josh White, Arreton CC first team captain, said,
“We embrace disability cricket, women and girls’ cricket and everybody who wants to play the game. This new surface will put us in a stronger position and we are grateful to the IW Foundation for their incredible support.”
Pete Skinner, chairman of Porchfield Cricket Club, said,
“These enhanced facilities will make cricket a much more pleasant experience for Island players and those visiting from the mainland.”
But it wasn’t just cricket clubs which benefitted from the near £90,000 grant round
Isle of Wight Search and Rescue
Isle of Wight Search and Rescue received £12,000 towards a new drone and medical kit to help its vital work of finding missing Islanders.
Dean Terrett, chair of IW SAS, said,
“We are delighted to receive a £12,000 grant from the Isle of Wight Foundation in support of our life-saving operations.
“This funding will enhance our medical response capability and strengthen our search operations with a new drone and being able to train additional pilots, this capability will enable faster and more effective searches, where every second counts.”
Age UK IW
Older Islanders were not forgotten either with Age UK IW awarded £3,600 to help it expand its volunteer programme.
Maria Bunce, Age UK IW chief officer, said,
“We are thrilled to have been awarded this grant, which will enable us to continue to increase our volunteer workforce. This, in turn, will support the charity to reach more older Islanders.
“We can’t thank the IW Foundation enough for this generous grant, it will really make a difference.”
The grants are on top of £50,000 worth of support for Isle of Wight organisations helping people with disabilities which were recently announced.
Fellows: We were delighted to support three Island cricket clubs
Eddie Fellows, chairman of the IW Foundation said,
“With sport being so important for the mental and physical wellbeing of Islanders, we were delighted to support three Island cricket clubs this year.
“Also, helping to locate and rescue missing people and providing vital assistance and companionship to older residents are crucial roles that support our Island communities.
“We are pleased to provide these grants to enable these organisations to continue making a real difference across the Isle of Wight.”
News shared by Alan on behalf of IW Foundation. Ed
