Magnificent Seven Charities Given WightAID Cash Boost

Seven Isle of Wight good causes have benefitted in the latest round of giving by WightAID.

Almost £10,000 was granted in the first round of 2024 with the Arukah Project CIC the biggest winner with more than £7,000 towards its stress stress-to-stress programme, which will give essential support to 28 Island residents.

Arukah helps individuals process and reduce trauma, anxiety and stress.

It mostly works with marginalised communities, for example, people who may have struggled with addictions.  

Isle of Wight Venue Campaign (Operation Geranium) and their postcard scheme has published and distributed 50,000 postcards to everywhere from from Niton to Kazakhstan.

They grow geraniums and volunteers collect and deliver them to older Island Residents.

YES Creative Beats CIC were unable to make the presentation as they were at a Samba Workshop.

They received a grant towards purchasing larger drums for their Parkinson’s Drumming sessions.

Yetta Elkins from the group said:

“We are so grateful to have received funding from WightAID to buy extra equipment to support our Drumming and Movement sessions.

"Wight Aid’s generosity has meant that we can deliver sessions to more people in our Island community, improving their health whilst having fun - thank you WightAID!”

Sandown and Lake Youth FC received a grant for new goalposts while Sandown and District Historical Association received a grant to help digitise its historical records.

Sandown Aviation Men’s Shed received a grant to help support their upcoming Shed Fest in June at Sandown Airport. White Horse CIC (Island Riding Centre) received funding for a specialist Inky Dinky Saddle to allow disabled children with mobility issues to get on horseback.

Geoff Underwood, founder and trustee of WightAID, enjoyed a tour of the Island Riding Centre and saw the saddle.

Geoff said:

“It was great to see how WightAID donations like this make a difference.

“Don’t forget you or your business can tax make tax-efficient donations to WightAID and, in turn, allow us to keep on giving to these incredible groups here on the Isle of Wight.”

If anyone is interested in becoming a donor or is a charity/organisation who would like to apply for a grant, visit www.wightaid.org/apply