It was back to the shopfloor for Isle of Wight Foundation chairman Eddie Fellows when he visited Care In The Garden.

The Wootton-based community interest company supports adults with additional needs and has received several Isle of Wight Foundation grants over the years.

Those grants have paid for new vehicles and extra services at the centre, as well as equipment for the workshops.

After taking over as chairman of the Foundation last year, Eddie wanted to see for himself the difference the grants were making, so arranged a visit to the workshops and garden centre at Palmers Brook Road.

Since 2014, the foundation – comprising the companies behind Island Roads – has awarded grants of between £3,000 and £16,000 to projects involved in helping build better communities or supporting people to access employment or housing.

Eddie said: “As an engineer who is keen on re-use and recycling, I was particularly impressed by the productivity in workshops, renovating donated tools for re-sale and producing high-quality wooden garden furniture. I met some amazing people who were clearly getting a lot from the Care In The Garden environment.”

He also asked Islanders to go along and use the garden centre, café and other facilities at Care In The Garden.

John Goodenough, of Care In The Garden, said: “We would like to thank the IW Foundation for the unrivalled support they have given us over the years.

“They have been very generous in their support for Care In The Garden and very supportive of both the work we are trying to do here and the outcomes we are trying to achieve for our supported workers.

“Without their continued financial support, we would not be able to provide the variety of supported work opportunities that we currently offer for our clients. They share our belief that “everyone has the right to a full and meaningful life.”