A night of celebration in Newport saw Isle of Wight community champions take centre stage at the 4th Vectis Radio Awards.
Over 90 people were in the Newport restaurant to witness the awards being presented by The High Sheriff, Jacqueline Gazzard.
Interval entertainment was provided by Huxley Magic adding to the overall fun of the evening.
Maggie Currie, who organised the event, said:
“This year’s awards were once again a fantastic success. The atmosphere was energetic and uplifting, and it was clear that everyone was enjoying themselves. It was truly humbling to see the level of support different organisations showed for one another.
“I’m delighted with how successful the event has been in raising awareness of so many organisations – some of which were completely new to me. I’d also like to thank our panel of independent judges, who had the difficult job of selecting the winners, as well as Stef Burgess from Caffe Isola for sponsoring the event.”
The Awards Winners were:
Village Hero of the Year
- Gold – Gold – Tim Gibbs -Yarmouth Pharmacy.
- Silver – Lesley Wheeler – Vectis Wombles
- Bronze – Rodney “Worzel” Walmsley – Entertainer
Volunteer of the Year
- Gold – John Steele – Stenbury Hall – Wroxall Community Association
- Silver – Janet & John Strickland – Supporting Older People
- Bronze – Mark Wheeler – IW Cat Centre
Fundraiser of the Year
- Gold – Peter May – To Be In Her Shoes
- Silver – Sally Faulkner – Community Spirited Cafe
- Bronze – Stephanie Jeffery – Sandown Family Events
Sports Coach/Leader of the Year
- Gold – Colin Jackson – Man vs Fat Football
- Silver – Kay Howard – Vocal Coach.
- Bronze – Mark Powell – Brading Town FC
Community Project of the Year
- Gold – Mindset Bros
- Silver – Baby Box
- Bronze – East Cowes Carnival
Island School/Club Achievement of the Year
- Gold – Creationz Dance Academy – East Cowes
- Silver – Dance-Vibz – Sandown
Young Person of the Year
- Gold – Thomas Young – Vectis Corps of Drums
- Silver – Harry Day – Community Spirited Cafe
- Bronze – Darcy Weedall – Sandown Canoe Lake
Good Neighbour of the Year
- Gold – Cheryl Burtwell
- Silver – Kathy Barter
Judges Choice Award
- Double portion Church – Newport
- Vectis Radio Community Personality Award
- Michele Newton – Daisy Ring Bus
Overall Community Champion (Voted for by the public)
- Mindset Bros.
Mindset Bros Founder, Ross Taylor, spoke after the awards, expressing both humility and pride in what has been achieved:
“Winning these awards is an incredible honour, but for me, it’s about so much more than that. Sitting around that table with the team, seeing the passion, the unity, and the emotion, that’s what it’s all about. I feel incredibly humbled and proud of what we’ve built together. This is for every single person who has been part of the journey.
“The awards serve as recognition of the impact Mindset Bros continues to have within the community, but also as a reminder of the importance of connection, support, and showing up for one another. As the organisation continues to grow, moments like this reinforce the purpose at its core, building a strong, supportive community where no one has to face things alone.”
Ian Mac, Vectis Radio Station Manager and co-host for the evening, said:
“Once again, I felt truly humbled to be among so many people who dedicate themselves tirelessly to supporting our Island community. It’s so important that we continue to recognise and support their efforts all year round – without them, the Island simply wouldn’t function.
“I’d also like to extend my sincere thanks to our headline sponsors this year, Caffe Isola. Their incredible support made it possible for us to host such a fantastic evening.”
It was a lovely evening at a very nice venue . Well done to all winners and all the brilliant good causes who were involved.