WightAID Awards £16k In Final Round Of 2025 Grants

Two Island charities supporting families in crisis and women in vulnerable situations have received major funding in WightAID’s final round of grants for the year.

A total of £16,335 has been awarded to seven local good causes, bringing WightAID’s 2025 giving to £71,106 across 41 organisations.

Since launching nine years ago, the charity has distributed more than £812,000 to 281 groups.

The largest grant – £7,055 – has gone to Daisy Chains IW, which supports children with life-limiting or long-term conditions and their families.

The funding will help 80 Island families this Christmas, providing hampers for the most vulnerable, topping up Costa vouchers for parents with babies in NICU, and offering festive treats including trips to Havenstreet’s Santa Special, cinema visits, and an Elf Workshop.

Costa also donated £500 in vouchers.

Men Only CIC, based in Ryde, received £6,800 to create a dedicated women’s safe space at Rodger and Steve’s Place.

The charity, which has supported more than 500 men and 70 women this year, will use the grant to refurbish facilities and provide a private, welcoming environment for women facing domestic abuse, housing issues and other challenges.

Five other Island groups received £500 each:

• Sensory Space CIC – to create a lending library of sensory story sacks.

• Embracing Age – to provide Christmas gift boxes for 242 care home residents.

• Girlguiding IW – to support a large-scale event marking 100 years of World Thinking Day in 2026.

• John Cattle’s Skateclub CIC – for new safety gear as the club expands school sessions.

• Ryde Rowing Club – to buy sculling oars for its growing youth section.

WightAID founder Geoff Underwood thanked supporters Paul Thorley and Dan Carley, who together have raised nearly £5,000 through fundraising events including the Charity Supper Club and the Budapest Marathon.

“This latest round of giving shows that if people support us, we can support those less fortunate in our Island community,” he said.

Islanders can donate or learn more at wightaid.org/donate.