An Isle of Wight scooter rider who has fulfilled a childhood dream of competing internationally is among dozens of talented Islanders benefiting from Red Funnel’s Proud to Support programme, which has seen applications double ahead of next month’s deadline.
A total of 40 individuals and teams have already applied for support through the ferry operator’s 2026 programme, twice the number received at the same stage last year.
The initiative helps Isle of Wight residents overcome the cost of travelling across the Solent to compete, train and perform on the mainland and further afield.
Among those benefiting from the scheme is international scooter rider Joe Crockett, who has been able to travel to larger skateparks and competitions across the UK and Europe.
Joe has competed at the Urban World Series in Barcelona, while opportunities to ride in Germany and Italy have helped him develop his abilities and gain greater recognition within the sport.
Joe has said:
“Having the opportunity to ride my scooter internationally in places like Germany and Italy has helped me to progress massively in the sport and in my abilities, also giving me the chance to fulfil a childhood dream of mine from when I first started scootering.
“The travel support I have had this year has been incredible, allowing me to practice and train at bigger skateparks a lot more frequently, travelling to more competitions that I would not be able to go to otherwise, such as the Urban World Series in Barcelona. This has helped me to grow as a rider in the scene, both socially and online, and put my name out there more.”
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Another Islander benefiting from the scheme is archer Summer Chambers, who has been travelling to national and South Coast competitions to test herself against some of the country’s best competitors.
The support has enabled Summer to pursue her sporting ambitions while building her confidence and experience.
Summer has said:
“Being able to take part in national and South coast archery competitions means so much to me. It has given me the opportunity to challenge myself, grow in confidence and achieve goals I once only dreamed of.
“Red Funnel has made a huge difference, helping me get to competitions across the country and giving me the chance to compete at the highest level. I’m incredibly grateful for the support they have given, which has helped me turn my passion for archery into real achievements.”
Red Funnel says its Proud to Support programme has provided £73,000 worth of travel assistance this year, alongside a further 435 discounts.
A total of 40 sponsorships have been awarded in 2026, comprising 13 Island Ambassadors, 12 Supported Teams and 15 Supported Talents.
Since launching in 2022, the programme has supported 36 Island Ambassadors, 14 Supported Teams and 22 Supported Talents, helping Islanders access opportunities that might otherwise be difficult or expensive to reach.
With applications for the next round of support now twice as high as they were at the same point last year, Red Funnel is encouraging more individuals and teams to come forward before the deadline.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, has said:
“The response to Proud to Support this year has been fantastic. We have already received twice as many applications as we did at this point last year shows just how much ambition and talent there is across the Island, and how important access to mainland opportunities can be in helping that talent thrive.
“Joe and Summer are brilliant examples of what Proud to Support is all about. Whether it’s travelling to a national competition or taking an Island talent onto the international stage, we’re incredibly proud to play a part in helping Islanders pursue their ambitions.
“With less than a month to go, we encourage any individuals or teams who think they could benefit from the programme to get their application in. We’re really looking forward to discovering the next group of Islanders we can support.”
Applications for the 2026 Proud to Support programme close on 16th November.
Islanders interested in applying, or finding out more about the available support, can visit www.redfunnel.co.uk/proud-support.
