The Isle of Wight Council has awarded grants totalling £45,000 to community groups.  The grants were handed out to a variety of good causes earlier this month at a special ceremony in the Council Chamber at County Hall.

The Community Chest grants have been made available to projects in parishes that benefit older people and the whole community.  The awards can pay for up to 80 percent of a project and are split into £20,000 which is available for schemes that benefit older people and £25,000 for projects that benefit the community.

Older people schemes can range from encouraging and supporting older people to be more independent to projects which help to overcome islolation felt by many older people in the local community.

Community project grants can help stage events, help reduce crime and encourage diversity in the local community as well as the promotion of healthy living and youth engagement activities.

Leader of Isle of Wight Council Councillor David Pugh said: “The Council is committed to supporting grass root initiatives that are backed by local community groups.

“These excellent schemes show that community spirit is alive and well on the Isle of Wight and that much hard work is going on to improve the quality of life for people on the Island.”

Among the grants being handed out at the ceremony was a £1,000 grant to St Helens Sports and Carnival Committee who will use the cash to pay for a entertainment and games day for the family; a £500 grant to the 1st Shanklin Scout Group who will use the money to pay for a new tent and a £2,500 grant which will be given to Wootton Bridge Village Partnership, St Marks Church and Wootton Parish Council who together are staging events to get older people to get together and socialise. Some of the money will also be used to pay for a telephone service which will check whether older people are safe and well in the area.

IWC Media David Newble:  Isle of Wight Community News @Island Pulse.