Community Festival In Newport To Raise Funds For Age UK Isle Of Wight

A community festival celebrating music, art and inclusion is set to take place at Newport's Apollo Theatre this weekend, with proceeds supporting Age UK Isle of Wight.

The Operation Geranium Festival will be held on Saturday (6 June), marking six years of the Island-based Operation Geranium Project.

Running from 2pm until 10.15pm, the event will feature live music, art displays and community activities, bringing together supporters, volunteers and local organisations for a day of entertainment and fundraising.

Hosted by Steve Double B.E.M. and supported by volunteers at the historic Apollo Theatre, the festival aims to celebrate the impact of Operation Geranium since it was established in 2020.

The project supports adults with learning and support needs through growing plants, which are then distributed to Island residents via Age UK Isle of Wight Care Navigators.

Deliveries have also been assisted by Keert UK's Green Cargo Pedal Bike service, helping to promote wellbeing, inclusion and environmentally-friendly outreach across the Island.

Representatives from Age UK Isle of Wight will be attending the event to raise funds and highlight the support the charity provides for older people living on the Island.

The festival will also showcase the project's wider work in arts and community engagement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, its "Wish You Were Here" postcard initiative saw 50,000 artworks distributed around the world, helping people stay connected during periods of isolation.

That initiative has since evolved into a broader public arts programme, with free exhibitions held in libraries, cafés and community venues.

A packed programme of live music is planned throughout the day, featuring artists spanning punk, folk, country, skiffle and rock.

Among the headline acts are StormTrooper, whose history dates back to London's famous Marquee Club in the 1970s, alongside Brighton pub-rock favourites The Fish Brothers.

Folk performer Rhiannon Crutchley, known professionally as The Brewer's Daughter, will also take to the stage, bringing a sound shaped by performances at venues and festivals across the UK.

Organisers say the event is about celebrating creativity, community spirit and the positive difference Operation Geranium has made across the Isle of Wight over the past six years.