West Wight Sports and Community Centre was the biggest winner in the latest round of grants from WightAID. The Freshwater-based charity was granted £10,000 for an IT upgrade.
The centre is a well-used hub for the West Wight and wider Isle of Wight community, offering activities that support physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Two-part IT project
There are two elements to the IT project, one to upgrade and enhance IT capabilities so that the centre team can work efficiently, improve marketing and promotional capacity and promote the centre across social media and the centre’s website.
The second element will help the centre generate more revenue from existing resources such as the meeting room.
Griffin: A huge difference to us
Clare Griffin, centre manager, said,
“As a charity it is difficult to find cash for major improvements such as this but now we are doing great things with the money donated to us, in terms of social media, marketing and promotion.
“We are very grateful to WightAID for the money that will make a huge difference to us.”
Eight grants presented in Newport
WightAID announced eight donations at its recent ceremony in Newport, where a £22,634 of grants were handed over and a cheque was presented by Chloe Jackson, from WightAID supporters WRS.
Wet Wheels CIC
Received £5,000 towards the cost of their boating opportunities for disabled people of all ages to benefit from time on the water.
The grant will pay for skippers’ fees, fuel, shore crew and volunteer expenses for trips Yarmouth and Cowes, giving people with disabilities the chance to get involved with steering the boat among other tasks.
Phoenix Project IOW
Received £3,060 for a replacement industrial washing machine. The Ryde-based Project supports adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and neurological conditions, including autism.
The washing machine is used to maintain cleanliness but also plays a role in supporting life skills development.
Sun Drum CIC
Received £2,044.49 went for its Mindful Music Instruments initiative.
It delivers wellbeing sessions aimed at enriching the lives of individuals and fostering a stronger sense of community. Sun Drum will use the grant to purchase a small range of sound and music instruments to support the delivery of mindful music and wellbeing sessions.
The equipment will include Tibetan singing bowls, a looper, a gong with stand and mallet, which will be used to create calming and creative sound experiences during group sessions.
Extreme Explorer Scout Unit
Granted £1,000 for expedition kit including tents, compasses, map cases and camping stoves.
It provides Scouting activities, opportunities and training for young people in the 14-18 age group. This year it is taking 10 explorers to Dartmoor to complete their DofE expeditions.
Cowes Heritage Community Group
Received £870 for a website upgrade. The grant will help improve the appeal of the website, which has been in a fairly basic format and needs improvement.
Two other groups received grants of £500 or less.
Wessex Cancer Support
£160 for renovations to the garden at the Cancer Centre on Lugley Street in Newport, transforming it into a calm, restorative outdoor environment that will directly enhance the well-being of both clients and volunteers
Applegate Breast Cancer Support Group
The group is offering a retreat day at Ventnor Botanic Garden in October 2026 for the women of the group and the £500 grant will help pay for this relaxing day.
More donors wanted
WightAID founder Geoff Underwood said,
“The variety of grants offered in this round demonstrates two things; the need for support for so many charities and the generosity shown by Island companies and individuals towards WightAID.
“We would love to see more corporate and individual donors coming forward.”
Join WightAID and donate via the website.
News shared by Alan on behalf of WightAid. Ed
