Southern Housing has been running a series of interactive workshops aimed at improving residents’ health and digital skills across the Isle of Wight.
These sessions form part of a project funded by the Isle of Wight Council’s Household Support Fund. The initiative is helping people become healthier, gain digital confidence, and, in some cases, stop smoking.
Saving energy and reducing waste
At Ryde Village, one workshop focused on energy-saving cooking techniques. Residents learned how to reduce food waste and explored how air fryers use less energy than some conventional ovens.
To complement the session, 57 residents received free air fryers and fresh food hampers from Briddlesford Farm.
Building confidence and connections
The educational workshops were delivered in partnership with The Footprint Trust and also included guidance on accessing local community support services.
Tracy Webster, Places and Community Partnerships Coordinator at Southern Housing, said,
“These workshops have made a real difference to our residents’ daily lives. We’ve seen people gain confidence in the kitchen, learn new ways to save money on their bills, and connect with support services they didn’t know existed. It’s been wonderful to see residents supporting each other.”
Positive feedback from residents
Residents have welcomed the initiative. One described the sessions as,
“Informative, useful, and helped with my bills.”
