The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) has made grants worth more than £46,000 to benefit 5 charities, community groups and voluntary organisations on the Isle of Wight, to help vulnerable local people whose lives have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grants of up to £5,000 were awarded to local voluntary and community organisations to help people develop skills for the future; larger strategic grants of up to £15,000 were awarded to support local voluntary and community organisations working with young people to help rebuild their volunteer base and future resilience and ongoing sustainability.
In 2021, HIWCF enabled funding of nearly £2million in total throughout Hampshire & the Isle of Wight.
Isle of Wight Youth Trust has received £15,000 to develop counselling services for young people aged 16 to 25 years across the Isle of Wight. Throughout the world, young people have suffered significant impacts from the COVID19 pandemic, particularly in terms of their mental health.
Jo Dare, Isle of Wight Youth Trust CEO, said:
“The Isle of Wight Youth Trust are extremely grateful for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation’s continued support. Through this funding, we will be able to increase our capacity to work with young people on the island and improve mental health outcomes. The Bridging the Gap project will see our Wellbeing Practitioners deliver early intervention work to support young people to build self-confidence and resilience, so they have the skills they need to deal with life’s ups and downs. This project will also expand our capacity to reach young people through youth-led projects, empowering young people through increased volunteering opportunities.”
Marlins Swim Club, a small friendly swim club for adults over the age of 18 who want to swim for fitness, fun or competition, received £3,500 as part of the Recovery Fund.
Bob Cooper, Chair of IOW Marlins Swim Club says:
“After the loss of the club’s main fundraising events through 2020 and 2021, the grant from HIWCF has given the club and its members future security until we can again hold our fundraising events. This will enable us to carry on our swimming activities and keep our members active and safe.”
Jacqui Scott, CEO at HIWCF, has said:
“Because of the continuing pandemic, we know that voluntary and community organisations in our local areas are struggling to deliver services that are now more in need than ever. The recovery fund, and strategic youth recovery fund will go some way to helping these organisations continue to provide vital services to their beneficiaries many of whom are young people or face additional challenges or barriers to inclusion.”
The groups that received 2021 grant funding on the Island are as follows:
| Grant Applicant | Local Authority Name | Project Area |
| Aspire Ryde | Isle of Wight | Ryde |
| Isle of Wight Marlins Swimming Club | Isle of Wight | The Isle of Wight |
| Suicide Prevention & Intervention (SPIIOW) | Isle of Wight | Newport |
| Level Land Farms | Isle of Wight | Brading town and evirons |
| Isle of Wight Youth Trust | Isle of Wight | Across the Isle of Wight |
