A charity that has provided financial support to ice skaters displaced by the closure of Ryde Arena back in 2016 is re-branding, to support the wider Ryde community.
Wight Ice Leisure, the charity established to reopen an ice rink locally, has supported young ice skaters and ice hockey players to train on the mainland, something that is set to continue.
However, the charity is now rebranding as Ryde Community Development Trust to support the wider community of Ryde. The Trust is working closely with Ryde Town Council on a range of projects such as a new skate park on the Esplanade, accessibility on the Ryde beaches and a community garden.
The Trust, however, will always at its core support the historic success story of ice skating and hockey on the Island. Wight Aid has awarded a grant to the Trust to develop an ice skating programme. This will not only support existing skaters to travel to the mainland to train and compete but also provide travel assistance opportunities for non-skaters to have taster skating sessions at Gosport Ice Rink.
Councillor Michael Lilley, Chair of Ryde Community Development Trust says:
“Ice skating and hockey are part of the DNA of Ryde, and it was a very sad day when the ice rink closed. Wight Ice Leisure (now RCDT) has tried hard to get a new rink back but importantly it has made sure our talented young skaters and ice hockey players are supported to realise their dreams. Wight Aid’s grant enables us to continue this.”
Although it has been announced that Isle of Wight Distillery is now purchasing the Arena Lease, RCDT still hopes one day a new ice rink will come back to the Island.
Robbie Jones, a trustee and a former ice hockey player says:
“This grant keeps alive ice skating and hockey as an available sport for young islanders. We welcome the news of Mermaid bringing back the empty Arena into productive and job creating use. However, the trust still has a long-term objective of one day a new multi-purpose sports facility with an ice rink is opened in Ryde. Without the Ryde Arena, I would not have gone onto university and gained employment, it was life changing for me and I don’t want to see other young people’s dreams and opportunities dashed.”
Good news! I hope they will really push for an ice rink on the Island, it must be really difficult to do all that travelling.
All very well, charity helping these poor young people but is wightlink chipping in? It’s a flippin early start going to all the lessons and events and expensive too! Poor mums and dads juggling busy lives and we get a distillery!? What’s wrong with the council here. Gin over our youths being supported in their dreams, sounds about bloody right doesn’t it. Obvs!!!