7 Isle of Wight good causes have received a share of £14,579 thanks to Wight Aid’s grant giving programme.
Funded via donations from Isle of Wight companies, investors and individuals looking to support the Island’s community, each month Wight Aid awards cash grants to groups working to make a difference on the Isle of Wight.
In June and July, grants were awarded to the following groups:
Independent Arts – £3,000 towards its ‘Looking Out from Lockdown’ exhibition which is giving Island residents the opportunity to exhibit their lockdown creations in a touring exhibition across 5 venues in 5 towns from July through to September. The project will finish with a series of shows at its new creative hub in Newport with an evening reception, guest speakers and presentations.
The Getaway Foundation – £8,200 towards providing holidays for Isle of Wight families living in poverty. The Foundation, which also receives ferry travel from WightAID supporters Wightlink, helps families to create happy memories and provide relief from challenging times.
St Boniface PCC – £1,800 towards 3 defibrillator boxes which will be installed at different parts of the village. St Boniface PCC supports the local community by providing food, physical and spiritual support. They also have an outreach programme to support the elderly and disabled living in the local area.
Blackberry Lane Pre-school and nursery – £500 towards reconditioned tablets and mobile phones to provide online learning journal updates to the parents and guardians of children and babies in their care.
IOW Wave Trust 70/30 Project – £300 for t-shirts for and leaflet production to raise awareness of the charity’s 70/30 campaign on the Island, which aims to empower and educate communities about the effects of trauma in circumstances relating to child abuse and children witnessing domestic violence.
Music Craft CIC – £500 towards the cost of paint to refurbish the Music Craft’s new community music hub which is due to open in September. Music Craft aims to make music affordable and accessible to all. The new community music hub will have teaching rooms, rehearsal rooms, an instrument repair workshop, a recording studio and communal space for social events and activities. The centre will also be an Arts Award Centre with two trained advisors.
Northwood House – £279 towards the purchase of a hedge trimmer, hedge pole trimmer, and lawn trimmer – all battery powered to help the gardening volunteers who help to maintain the Grade II listed house and community park in Cowes.
Lisa Gagliani, Independent Arts chief executive, said:
“The Looking Out from Lockdown Tour has been enjoyed by almost 300 people so far at venues in Ryde and Ventnor and we expect another 300 to attend our shows in Cowes, Freshwater and Newport.
“Funding from WightAID has helped us to showcase art from our online gallery which was created during lockdown – it is a wonderful celebration of Island creativity and resilience. Following periods of isolation due to Covid restrictions, the exhibitions are also a great opportunity for people to safely re-connect with their communities through the joy of art.”
For more information about the tour, please visit https://independentarts.org.uk/looking_out_from_lockdown_the_tour/
Dr John Pollard one of the Trustees of Northwood House Charitable Trust said:
“Northwood House has in excess of 60 Bay trees, which need constant attention from our hard-working enthusiastic group of volunteer gardners. We are very grateful to WightAid for the generous grant that has enabled us to purchase a selection of labour-saving cordless, quiet and non-polluting hedge and grass trimming equipment, so that these essential tasks can be undertaken.”
Geoff Underwood, founder of WightAID, said:
“Thanks to the generous support of businesses and individuals we are able to provide much needed to funds to organisations both large and small that are making a positive difference to Island life. We continue to be inspired by the work carried out by Island groups to support those in need and also to help make our community stronger and a wonderful place to live.”
For details of how to donate to WightAID or apply for a grant, please visit www.wightaid.org.
