The Isle of Wight’s Doughnut Economy Group is urging Islanders to vote in this week’s local elections.
Key challenges facing the Island
The group, which runs monthly meetings from Newport and Carisbrooke Community Centre and which is open to all, is working to promote a fair and sustainable future for all Islanders.
The group has been using local and national data to understand the key challenges that Islanders face. These include demographic decline due to our rapidly aging population with the pressures on health, care and economy that result; the need to raise educational attainment and increase support for young people; and how we can use the Island’s great strengths in natural sciences to address the climate and biodiversity crises.
Making an informed choice
The group is therefore encouraging Islanders to make an informed choice on which candidates in their ward best represent their views and to go out to vote.
Find out who your candidates are
“Fewer than 4 in 10 Islanders”
Tristan Harris (Doughnut Economics Group Lead) and Ian Boyd (Group Member) said,
“Our last unitary authority elections were in 2021 and the total turnout was just 36.93 percent.
“If this is repeated then fewer than 4 in 10 Islanders will get to decide who is to take the lead in shaping local policy, services, hopes and ambitions over these next critical years.
“We want to encourage everyone to reverse this trend on 7th May by coming out to vote for the candidate that will best represent their neighbourhood and fight for a better Island.”
How to find out who is standing in your ward
The group is running a campaign, 7th May is Voting Day, to encourage people to read up on who their local candidates are and to go out to vote on Thursday (don’t forget your photo ID).
News shared by Nora on behalf of the Island Doughnut Economics Group. Ed
