Vectis Radio is preparing for its annual Community Awards, taking place on 23rd April 2027, and this year the station is putting young people at the heart of the celebrations.
The Vectis Radio Community Awards highlights the incredible people, groups and organisations that make a difference across the Isle of Wight. Now, Vectis Radio is introducing something completely new to the awards For 2027, physical trophies for the winners.
The new awards trophies are being designed to recognise and celebrate even more of the Island’s young people and the contribution they make to their communities. The station has teamed up with local craftsman Gordy’s Wood to create a number of bespoke wooden trophies, and now young Islanders are being invited to help design them.
Vectis Radio is calling on schools, youth organisations and community groups across the Island to get involved in a creative project that will give young people the opportunity to leave their mark on the awards. One winning design will be selected and laser-etched onto the official Vectis Radio Community Awards trophy.
How to enter
The competition is open to young people aged 4 to 19, with the theme Community on the Isle of Wight. Young people can interpret the theme however they wish, using their creativity to show what community means to them.
Designs should be produced without colour, as the winning artwork will be laser etched onto wood. Entries can be created on paper or digitally and should be photographed clearly, without shadows, before being submitted through the Vectis Radio website.
Vectis Radio can also arrange a mass collection of physical entries from schools and organisations that would prefer to submit artwork this way.
Supporting young voices
The station has a long-standing commitment to supporting young people through its dedicated 4PS Radio Training School. The project helps young people build confidence and develop new skills through radio, including presenting, producing, podcasting and promoting. More than 500 young people have taken part in the 4PS project to date.
Station Manager Ian Mac said the new initiative was a natural extension of the work Vectis Radio already does with young people,
“We have always believed that young people should have a voice and an opportunity to be heard. The 4PS Radio Training School has shown us just how much talent, creativity and potential there is among young people on the Isle of Wight. The Community Awards are about celebrating the people who make our Island special, and this year we wanted to make sure young people were at the very heart of that celebration.
“Giving a young person the opportunity to design a trophy that will be presented to community heroes across the Island is something really special. Their artwork could become part of the history of the Vectis Radio Community Awards.”
Getting schools and groups involved
Schools and organisations are also being encouraged to share information about the competition within their communities and encourage young people to take part. They will also be able to promote the Community Awards themselves, with public voting expected to open in early 2027.
Participating schools and organisations will receive acknowledgement through the awards and promotional activity, recognising their involvement in the trophy design project.
Vectis Radio will also provide a digital promotional toolkit, including a printable poster, a mini advertisement, an event summary suitable for newsletters and frequently asked questions.
The station hopes the project will encourage young people to think about what community means to them while giving schools and organisations an opportunity to showcase their creativity.
More than a design competition
Event organiser Kacie Hayden said,
“This is much more than a design competition. It is about giving young people ownership of something that will be seen and treasured across the Island. Imagine seeing a trophy at the Vectis Radio Community Awards and knowing that the design was created by a young person from your school or organisation. That is a brilliant opportunity, and we would love to see as many young people as possible get involved.”
Schools, youth groups and community organisations interested in participating are asked to contact Vectis Radio to confirm their involvement so that they can be recognised as part of the project.
Design entries can be submitted through the Vectis Radio website.
News shared by Kelvin on behalf of Vectis Radio. Ed
