Freshwater Bay Golf Club Raises £4,000 To Support Arts For Health

Members of Freshwater Bay Golf Club, led by club captain Gary Dobson, recently presented a cheque for £4064.76 to island arts for health charity Independent Arts, after a successful year of fundraising.

Nominated as the captain’s charity for 2023, Independent Arts were supported throughout the year by various members events, open competitions, charity days, and individual fundraising feats by members of the club.

The final push saw golfers purchase over £500s worth of raffle tickets at the Christmas lunch and cheque presentation evening, raising the total donated to over £4,000.

Many club led events took place over the course of 2023, including the clubs charity day, which itself raised over £1,800, in addition to many club members taking on their own fundraising challenges.

This includes Steve Orchard and Paul Swain walking a 35-mile route between Independent Arts community Sing About venues, to celebrate Independent Arts 35th anniversary.

Club captain for 2023, Gary Dobson, said of the fundraising success:

“It was an honour to be Captain of Freshwater Bay Golf Club for 2023.

"I am very proud that the Club managed to raise so much for a fantastic charity, special thanks to Steve Orchard and Paul Swain for their exceptional fundraising efforts.”

The money raised will support Independent Arts in continuing their mission to reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing through the arts, delivering from their Newport based Creative Hub, in the community across the Isle of Wight, and directly to care home residents.

Independent Arts Chief Executive, Lisa Gagliani MBE, said:

“Partnerships and charity of the year fundraising are a vital part of our community fundraising strategy, with the support of Freshwater Bay Golf Club members raising unrestricted funds such as these.

"This support ensures that money is spent supporting those who are most vulnerable, most isolated, which is what Independent Arts do best.”