Well-known Isle of Wight out of school club Scallywags celebrated a major milestone earlier this week, marking 30 years since it first opened its doors in Lake.
Scallywags was established on 6th April 1996 at the former Broadlea Primary School site at Berry Hill, Lake, after Sarah Wherry (Beilby), then a teaching assistant, was given the opportunity by headteacher Mark Lee to launch one of the first out of school clubs on the Isle of Wight.
The club, named ‘Scallywags’ by the children themselves, has since grown and evolved, running at various locations over the years including Cowes, Newport and Shanklin.
Sarah Wherry, Founder, has said:
“Myself and my good friend Kerry have both been working at Scallywags since it opened. Work buddies for 30 years.
“Please can I say a massive thank you to everyone involved over the past 30 years….. children, staff, parents, grandparents and anyone else that has played a part in Scallywags journey over the past 30 years.”
Over the decades, Scallywags has faced a number of challenges, particularly in recent years with the loss of venues, which at one stage placed the future of the club in doubt.
However, strong community backing and support on social media helped secure new premises on more than one occasion.
Sarah added:
“Scallywags really has got the best team of staff and it’s them who make Scallywags what it is with their commitment, care and ensure all the children’s needs are met and give the children the best time and I am so grateful.
“We’ve had a few rocky times over the recent years with our venues closing and we thought that was maybe the end of Scallywags, but with the overwhelming community support that was shown, word spread over social media and a home was found.”
The club relocated to the YMCA in Shanklin 3 years ago, but was forced to move again when the building closed and was put up for sale.
In September 2025, Scallywags found a new base at Oakfield CE Primary School in Ryde, where it has since settled.
Sarah Wherry has said:
“We were welcomed to Oakfield CE Primary School in Ryde by the lovely head teacher Vikki Reader and all her team and we have now settled in here.
“The children absolutely love our new location, the space available is fantastic. The support we receive here is amazing and hopefully we really can say this is our forever home.”
