Thanks to Krissy from the Isle of Wight Community Fund for this latest news. Ed
More than £45,000 has been awarded to the voluntary sector on the Island by the Isle of Wight Community Fund (IWCF).
Areas considered as suffering high deprivation will receive money to boost support and upgrade facilities available to the community.
A pilot project in Oakfield in Ryde to tackle high unemployment and the lack of skills and training suffered by many local residents is being launch by the Ryde East Community Association in partnership with Spectrum Housing.
Skatepark and holiday clubs
In Cowes the funds will be used to enable the local youth worker to continue running evening and holiday clubs for 9 to 16 year olds. While in Ventnor much needed repairs can now go ahead to the popular skate park.
Essential repairs are also being funded for the Community Hall in Wroxall, which is used by a number of local groups and sports clubs. While Improvements to the outdated facilities at Kitbridge Farm can now be carried to enable more young people to benefit from work placements. The scheme targets NEETS (Not in Employment, Education or Training), and those suffering from mental health or long term chronic medical conditions.
Culture kitchens
Promoting relationships with ethnic minorities received support through a grant to Equals.
A successful pilot scheme to run culture kitchens with members demonstrating ethnic cooking will now be expanded across the Island, within schools and community groups.
Helping hands
The Isle of Wight Community Fund also continued to support funding for and the Isle of Wight Rural Community Council’s ‘Helping Hands’ programme.
“We received an unprecedented number of applications this round and sadly had to turn down many good projects” explain Hamish Wilson, Chair of the IWCF grant panel. “However we feel the groups we have been able to support will make a tremendous difference to their communities.”
“We are encouraging those groups who missed out on funding this time to take a look at the new Local Giving website, which is being supported by the IWCF. Online donating is coming very much to the forefront of how people give to charities and provides a wonderful opportunity for groups achieve some longer term financial stability.”
