Local good causes across the age ranges have benefited in the first WightAID round of grant giving of 2026.
More than £13,500 was given out to 2 early-years support organisations, a youth football club, a village community group, a floral-based initiative to support adults with learning and support needs and a woodland improvement project.
Lisa Butler, of WightAID supporter Rouse Ltd, presented the cheque to the good causes.
The biggest grant of the round was for £5,707, and went to The Ickle Pickles Children Charity, which supports the smallest and sickest babies who need intensive care in neonatal units.
Since 2009, the Ickle Pickles children’s charity has been raising money for the intensive care equipment that treats these babies and helps to keep them alive. The team on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at St Mary’s Hospital alone provides support to almost 300 babies and their families every year.
The WightAID grant will provide two Neopuff Infant Resuscitators and two Croyde Kangaroo Recliner Chairs.
Providing funding for these chairs will enable more of the new mums to establish breastfeeding and bond with their babies during this difficult time.
The other early-years grant went to The Parenting Network CIC, which was awarded £4,050 towards activity costs and refreshments for children and parents at its Family Hub, which is to be established at Quay Arts in Newport in 2026.
It will also be launching outreach work expansion with the Special Care Baby Unit in St Mary’s, and with the fostering and special guardianship teams.
The network exists to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children during the critical early years.
The third major grant of £2,650, was received by Ryde-based Forever Wild at Heart for its Community Woodland Improvement Project to make its woodland safer, more accessible and more resilient for year-round community use.
Forever Wild at Heart focuses on wellbeing, inclusion and safe outdoor activity for children, families and adults.
Three other good causes received smaller grants Wroxall Woollies received £500 for games equipment, wool and snacks for its village venture. It holds weekly coffee mornings as well as a monthly evening making items to help various charities. They would like to extend their services to holding a fortnightly games afternoon – hosting skittles, bowling and ladder golf, along with a light snack.
Anyone in the village and further afield are welcome to attend plus a possibility that they could also use the equipment in the school holidays for local children.
Operation Geranium support adults with learning and support needs to grow and produce pots of geraniums. The grant of £500 will help deliver 600 geranium pots to older residents via a network of care community hubs. Every year since 2020 they have delivered to residents in nursing care, attending local community safe spaces, being discharged from hospital or supported by care providers.
Brighstone FC was given £216 to buy 30 footballs for use by more than 200 children who train and play on a weekly or fortnightly basis. The expectation is that this could double or triple in the next year as they form new teams for the next season.
Geoff Underwood, WightAID founder, said:
“This is a fabulous start to 2026 and we are delighted to support some truly incredible organisations. This is only possible thanks to the generosity of Island businesses and individuals, so a big thank you to them.”
Join WightAID at www.wightaid.org/donate.
