This in from the council. Ed
There’s a new soundtrack for the Isle of Wight; a catchy yet poignant summer tune, one with a message from those who live on this award-winning, holiday Island.
The new ‘Fight for the Wight’ single, written and performed by Isle of Wight music college, Platform One (with special guests), supports a local campaign by the Isle of Wight Council and local newspaper the Isle of Wight County Press; Fight for the Wight.
The single is available to purchase online via the campaign Website. Visitors to the site are encouraged to sign the petition before going on to download the track, for just 79 pence.
The Fight for the Wight campaign seeks to raise awareness of the crippling cuts affecting Isle of Wight public services, in particular the Isle of Wight Council, which has already made of £50 million cuts to services in the past five years, with another £31.5 million to be cut over the next four years.
Fight For The Wight from Fight Wight on Vimeo.
The petition
The Fight for the Wight campaign asks people to sign a petition that asks the government to:
- Acknowledge the Island is unique and needs extra help.
- Change the way the Island is funded, in recognition of the unique challenges we face as an Island community.
- Give us more money.
David Pontin, Director of Platform One, said:
“Platform One was really happy to respond to this professional brief set by the council. Writing any sort of campaign song is an incredibly complex task. We have an extremely talented and diverse degree team who worked alongside a selection of students from our music programmes.
“We certainly hope that the song helps raise awareness of the ongoing challenges facing the Isle of Wight. We were totally committed to writing, recording and producing a song that captures the true spirit of the Fight for the Wight campaign.”
Written in two days
Platform One were given the task to write a track for the campaign. Full time degree lecturers Ben Allman, Andy Booth and Mark Chettle had just two days to write the music and lyrics highlighting the issues the Island faces.
The concept was to produce a song that would inspire and empower people to get involved in the campaign. Students from Platform One were also involved in its production, including lead vocals from a third year degree student. Pupils from The Island Free School are also featured on the track, and had the chance to visit Platform One and record in a professional studio.
Council Leader, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, said:
“The levels of cuts imposed on all councils by central government in recent years due to austerity, are hitting the Isle of Wight harder than most.
“We have high levels of unemployment and deprivation, higher than average numbers of older people who often require additional services, and as an Island we also face higher costs to deliver those services.
“We simply cannot cope with the levels of austerity we’re expected to achieve and will not be able to deliver vital services to our community if this carries on!”
Proceeds to support Platform One
Staff and service users from across a range of council services appear in the music video, demonstrating some of those non-statutory services, could face further cuts in the future as the council seeks to meet its government imposed savings targets.
Any proceeds from the sale of the single will go to support Platform One to deliver a community music education project, following cutbacks to the Island’s music service in the last few years.
And the Isle of Wight is now asking for your support as the Island Fights for the Wight!
