Local community station Vectis Radio has announced the list of finalists for the 2025 Isle of Wight Community Awards.
This is the third year of these awards and the ceremony, which is sponsored by, and will be held at Caffe Isola, Newport, on Friday, March 28th. The High Sheriff, Graham Biss, will present this year’s awards in the following categories.
- Community Project of the Year.
- New Community Project/Organisation of The Year.
- Island Based International Project/Organisation of The Year.
- Animal Focused Community Project/Organisation of The Year.
- People Focused Community Project/Organisation of The Year.
- Charity Fundraiser of The Year.
- Volunteer of The Year.
- Most Inspirational Person in the Community Award.
- Overall Community Hero 2025.
The Overall Community Hero award will be decided by public vote from a list provided by the judges.
Station Manager, Ian Mac said:
“It is not always possible to give our own personal thanks to those in the community who have not only assisted Vectis Radio, but work hard to support community organisations across the island. Running these awards gives us that opportunity.
“Also, our very special thanks to our headline sponsors this year, Caffe Isola, who have enabled us to put this event on whilst keeping prices affordable.”
The Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Community Project of the Year
- Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival
- Care in the Garden
- Green IoW
- IW Prostate Cancer Support Group
- Natural Enterprise
New Community Project/Organisation of The Year
- IW Prostate Cancer Support
- Christopher Hayton
- Isorropia
- Wight Horse CIC
Island Based International Project/Organisation of The Year
- Kafuta Tumbung School
Animal Focused Community Project/Organisation of The Year
- Cats Protection IoW
- RSPCA IoW
- IW Donkey Sanctuary
People Focused Community Project/Organisation of The Year
- Isorropia
- Natural Enterprise
- Pan Together
- Veterans Outreach Support
- Wight SAR
Charity Fundraiser of The Year
- Rachel Thompson
- Ryde Round Table
- Terry & Sue Rampling
- Tracy & Peter Asher
- Trish Rooke
Volunteer of The Year
- Carol Court – Ability Dogs 4 Young People IoW
- Allan Cox – Age UK IoW
- Callum Goldbourne – Wight Horse CIC
- Jasmine Steel – The Better Days Cafe
Most Inspirational Person in the Community Award
- Tim Gibbs – Yarmouth Pharmacy
- Christopher Hayton – Various IW Organisations
- Kelly Marrison – Burlesque Chair Dance
- Charlie Panayi – Zoe’s Law
- Jamie Webster – RenoDrain
Overall Community Hero 2025 – The winner of this category will be voted by the public from this list of finalists.
- Carol Court – Ability Dogs 4 Young People IoW.
- Tim Gibbs – Yarmouth Pharmacy.
- Christopher Hayton – Various IW Organisations.
- Nikki Hedges (Flux-Edmunds) – Kezi’s Kindness.
To vote for your Community Hero 2025, please email [email protected] with the name of who you are voting for. One vote per person.
Event Organiser, Maggie Currie, said:
“Once again our panel of independent judges had a really difficult job sorting through all the high-quality applications and our heartfelt thanks go out to them. I can hardly wait to find out how the public voted for the Overall Community Hero, thank you to all those who have voted.”
“We wanted to hold a ceremony that put the finalists in their well-deserved spotlight, but also wanted it to be affordable and comfortable. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Caffe Isola, we have kept the price as low as we can and ask that you come dressed however you feel comfortable.
Tickets for the event are available at just £10 each, and include a glass of Prosecco or mock-cocktail on arrival and food is available to pre-order. To book, call Caffe Isola on 01983 524800 or drop in to 85a St James St, Newport.
No tickets will be available on the night. Doors will open at 18:30.
I must say Tim Gibbs is an excellent pharmacist,
Yarmouth are very lucky to have Tim, shame
Tim doesn’t move to Seaview.