Four diverse community projects across the Island are set to benefit from major grants from the Isle of Wight Foundation.

The projects chosen include two aimed at making music, one teaching confidence through the medium of radio and a fourth supplying a community minibus for a whole host of groups.

The donations, worth more than £40,000, come from the foundation established by the companies behind Island Roads – Ringway Island Roads, Meridiam, Island Roads Services and Vinci Concessions.

They are on top of more than £44,000 already announced for four charities supporting Islanders with disabilities or life-limiting illnesses in the 2024 grant round.

The foundation has distributed almost £85,000 to eight Island charities in its 2024 round of giving, taking the overall total to more than £900,000 in the last 11 years.

Rob Gillespie, chair of the foundation’s trustees, said: “We are proud to have gone past the £900,000 landmark and particularly pleased that we have supported eight amazing charities in 2024.

“We know how amazing music is in building confidence of people; speaking on radio is also a great asset to self-esteem, while this minibus will enable community groups to keep on doing what they do so well.

“We look forward to following the progress of each of these projects in the coming year.”

• YES! Creative Beats – £4,200 given to this new community interest company aimed at developing community drumming/movement groups for adults. They will run 12 weekly sessions in three different locations.
• Community Action IW – £14,000 towards developing a grassroots music/media project within the renovated Sandown Town Hall, open for all young people.
• The 4Ps Vectis Radio Training School – £6,600 for this radio training school designed to provide individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to produce and present their own radio programmes while boosting much-needed confidence and communication skills. The 4Ps in the name stands for ‘Presenting, Production, Podcasting and Promoting’. The training School covers a range of topics.
• Aspire Community Minibus – £16,000 to pay for a replacement community bus which will transport Islanders to a number of projects and events, from young people engaged in sports, music and social activities, to older community members participating in lunch clubs and wellbeing trips.

Julian Wadsworth, Community Action IW community resilience co-ordinator for the Bay, said: “This grant is amazing news for us. Without this money we wouldn’t be able to deliver this creative project which will enrich the lives of many young Islanders in South Wight.”

Ian Mac, Vectis Radio station manager, said: “We’re over the moon that, once again, Island Roads has placed trust in our award-winning project—a lifeline that empowers young people with confidence and skills here at the station.

“This invaluable support is the cornerstone of our mission – without it, the project simply couldn’t thrive.”

Trevor Nicholas, chief executive of Aspire, said: “This grant will enable us buy a minibus that will allow us to do more community trips. These will include taking people on days out from care homes.

“We can’t thank the IW Foundation enough for this generous grant.”