Charities and community led organisations working to tackle social exclusion on the Island are once again being invited to bid for grant support from the Isle of Wight Foundation.
Now in its tenth year, the foundation – comprising the companies behind Island Roads – has awarded grants of between £3,000 and £16,000 for projects involved in helping build better communities or supporting people to access employment or housing. To date, it has awarded grants totalling around £800,000 for such projects.
Having recently announced grant awards to nine local groups including Wessex Cancer Support, the IW Youth Trust, Ability Dogs 4 Young People, Vectis Radio, and The Way Forward Programme, the foundation is now seeking applications for the next round of funding.
Any applications that meet the foundations criteria are encouraged whether from a group applying for the first time or having previously applied.
The companies making up the foundation are Ringway Island Roads, Island Roads Services, Vinci Concessions and Meridiam.
Chairman Rob Gillespie said: “Since 2014 it has been a real pleasure not just to support the work of so many good causes but also to establish really strong links with the groups we have helped.
“Once again, we would like to encourage community interest companies and not-for-profit organisations involved in bringing communities together or supporting people with training, to apply for the next round of funding from our foundation.”
One group to have established really close links with the Foundation is The Way Forward. Based in Newport but with clients from across the Island, the organisation which provides support and sessions, training and employment for people with disabilities and autism has received four grants totalling over £33,000 from the foundation.
Chief executive Tracey Hill said: “We cannot thank the IW Foundation enough for all the fantastic support they have given us over many years – they along with the staff at Island Roads have made such a difference to the lives of so many of our clients.”
As well as grant funding, eligible projects are supported by Island Roads employees who are given the opportunity to be project sponsors and give their time to share their specialist skills with grant recipients to help them deliver their projects.
Funding applications can be made until midday on Monday May 6.