Local Community News

The award-winning Chillerton And Gatcombe Scarecrow festival returns from May 25 to June 1.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) has two dedicated grant funds currently open to Island-based community groups and small charities operating at a grassroots level.

Residents of a Newport care home were treated to a special day out courtesy of the Island Riding Centre this week.

A popular night-time charity 5km fun run is returning to Seaclose Park, Newport, on Saturday 5 October, to raise vital funds for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

An Island-based equestrian star has made her mark on the national stage — with a little help from her friends.

Two Isle of Wight charities have announced events for next month's Mammal Week.

Another successful fashion show from Bellissima and Sugar & Spice Lingerie was held at Ryde Castle Hotel showing spring and summer fashions.

A brand new Isle of Wight wrestling promotion will open its doors for the first-time this weekend.

Members of the Heart Care Club voted to rebrand and rename the group on Saturday (April 20).

A charity football match will take place in Brading next month to raise money for Mountbatten.

A blind veteran from the Isle of Wight has organised a fundraising walk with a difference to raise money for Blind Veterans UK.

Ryde's Monkton Arts will bring its first Gypsy Jazz Festival to the the town next month.

St Helens chose its Carnival Royalty for the 2024 season last Saturday.

A 100-mile trek - which saw participants overcome injury and challenging terrain - has raised money for a Shanklin charity.

Wightlink has teamed up with Isle of Wight-based recycling pioneers Inflatable Amnesty to transport materials across the Solent.

The Ability Dogs 4 Young People IW Fun Dog Show held last Sunday (April 14) proved an overwhelming success.

The judges for this month's Wight Noize final have been announced.

Motor racing fans have less than 24 hours to wait until this year’s Island Car Centre Sandown Sprint.

High Street shops in Sandown took part in a seasonal shop front competition highlighting the arrival of spring and a summer of activity on the horizon for the seaside resort.

A quiz night fundraiser will take place next week to raise money for the Isle of Wight Foodbank.

Helen Blake, Chairperson of Wight Aviation Museum (WAM), presented Gavin Stride of Island Collection with a picture of Pauline Gower and Dorothy Spicer with their Spartan Aircraft called “Helen of Troy” this week.

For the third consecutive year IW-Heroes Con will take place on the Star Wars anniversary — May the 4th.

Leading companies in the Island’s construction industry have come together to provide a new car park for Sight for Wight, the independent charity providing information and support to visually impaired Islanders.

AN INNOVATIVE upcoming event will offer Island companies access to a slew of successful business leaders.

April's Emerging Artist of the Month is a multi-genre musician who's taken an unconventional route into the music industry.

There’s just one month to go until the start of the Isle of Wight Spring Walking Festival, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024.

A popular and eco-friendly Ryde business has relocated to its new, brighter premises in the town.

Isle of Wight-based technology firm Innovative Physics has picked up another prestigious award – with a mention from an Artificial Intelligence (AI) version of Donald Trump for its innovative products as an extra bonus.

Motor racing fans have just over a week to wait until this year’s Island Car Centre Sandown Sprint, held over the weekend of 20-21 April.

A 100-mile walk in aid of Johns Club, for adults with learning disabilities and mental health, is taking place on Friday (April 12).

Smiles and cheers were in the air as representatives of Red Funnel and Aspire got together for the ferry operator’s annual cheque presentation tradition.

With the school Easter holidays now in their second week, parents running out of ideas to entertain the youngsters can still enjoy a family day out with free foot passenger travel for children with Wightlink’s Kids Go Free deal.

A playtime-loving cat who never lets his diabetes hold him back is in need of a new home where his medical needs and requests for chin-rubs can be met.

Following a successful period of applications from local artists, the Wight Noize shortlist has been announced.

Rebel Marine, a leading provider of marine services based in Fishbourne, has invested in two state of the art electric tracked machines.

Organisers of a free teen festival say they’re desperate to do it all again after more than 150 gathered for an Easter weekend of learning and inspiration.

On Sunday May 26, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre will hold its special bicentenary open day in celebration of the RNLI’s 200th anniversary this year.

An Isle of Wight family run business is celebrating its landmark 40th year of trading.

A teenager with a happy habit of helping others delivered a dose of Easter joy to care homes across the Isle of Wight last weekend.

Operation Easter - the national enforcement campaign to protect our nesting wild birds - is underway.

Isle of Wight punk band, The Pill, have released their debut single ahead of a summer of south coast performances and shows in Oxford and London.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution on the Isle of Wight is calling on Islanders and tourists to help the charity celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea by sending photographs of lifeboats or lifeboat stations along the coast this Easter.

The Environment Agency, in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council, has announced better protection for more than 300 properties and businesses from coastal erosion and flooding in Yaverland, Sandown and Shanklin for the next 50 years.

Branston Farm based digital studio, Brightbulb, has been shortlisted for an international tech award.

On Friday April 12, retired army Colonel Patrick Crowley will be coming to the Drill Hall in Newport to talk about the fascinating history of volunteer servicemen on the Isle of Wight.

A team of Easter bunnies undertook a weekend mission to deliver the most egg-cellent surprise to the little patients at St Mary’s Hospital.

Four island photographers have had their work featured in an exhibition celebrating a Finnish UNESCO Biosphere Reserve's 30-year anniversary and connections with global Biosphere Reserves like the Isle of Wight.

Odessey's Academy in Newport has been shortlisted in the Best New Salon category of this year's UK Hair and Beauty Awards.

The Isle of Wight’s artistic tapestry is set to be showcased once more, as IW Open Studios makes a triumphant return in 2024.

The creativity of Island pupils is being showcased and celebrated in a new art exhibition opening at Newport's Quay Arts today (Saturday).

The New Carnival Company has launched its IW Dark Skies Art Exhibition, which will be in place until April 19 in the windows of Independent Arts Newport.

The shortlist for the 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards (ARIAS) has been revealed with Vectis Radio being nominated for the second consecutive year in the Community Station of The Year category.

Time is running out for Isle of Wight groups to apply for a grant from Wightlink’s Green Innovation Fund to help make the Island more sustainable.

Mary and John Clarke, from Newport, have celebrated their 70 years as husband and wife with a party at Avondale, the sheltered housing scheme run by The Abbeyfield Society where they are both living.

Organisers have now confirmed the line up for this summer's Big Beach Weekend on Ryde's Harbour Beach.

Five young dancers from the Isle of Wight have been chosen to represent England in a prestigious dance competition in The Netherlands this summer.

The Isle of Wight Council, with its waste partner, is supporting the UK’s biggest annual food waste reduction campaign.  

Eight pharmacies will be open across the Isle of Wight over the Easter holiday weekend.

Can you brave the sea to take part in a charity swim which raised almost £60,000 last year?

There was calm at sea in Sandown Bay last weekend, with ecstatic onlookers treated to waves of musical bliss by one of the Island's most admired choirs.

An innovative new taxi booking app, hailed for transforming local transportation across the UK, has launched on the Isle of Wight.

Following the successful launch of the Great Wight Bite in 2023, the Island’s food and drink festival is set to return on Saturday and Sunday 7-8 September at Northwood House in Cowes.

Businesses across the Isle of Wight are opening their doors this Saturday (March 23) for people to find out more about local career opportunities.

Sandown's Wildheart Animal Sanctuary has hailed the impact of funding from The Tree Council’s Branching Out Fund.

Isle of Wight College students of Travel and Tourism got an insight into Wightlink’s operations at the start of a study day in Portsmouth.

Football fans on the Isle of Wight will be treated to an electrifying clash of the titans, as the Island's finest prepare to take on Southampton Legends in a fundraising contest.

The nominations have been published for the Isle of Wight Chamber Business Awards 2024.

The Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has thanked volunteers, staff and partners from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for their exceptional service and commitment at a glittering ceremony in Winchester.

Last night (Wednesday) saw West Wight Road Runners transform their weekly club event into a 'Food Bank Run'.

An Isle of Wight diving club on the cusp of a notable landmark is inviting new members to join.

Staff and Children at Tops Newport are celebrating a Good rating from Ofsted following their recent inspection.

The Isle of Wight's Naturezones Wildlife Education Trust is taking part in National Lottery Open Week for the first time.

The St Catherine’s Gala Dinner and Grand Auction held on Saturday (March 9) raised an amazing £7,500 to support the school’s work with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.

A fundraiser is taking place to raise money for the new Skatepark and Pump track in Freshwater.

Priory School is celebrating its successes in the Speech and Drama section of the Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival last week.

This year's Aspire duck race will take place on Saturday March 30 at Shide Trees, Newport, with a 1pm start time.

Ferenc 'Frank' Schlepp, a 45 year-old powerlifting enthusiast from the Isle of Wight, is celebrating a podium finish at a national event.

The winner of a new poster competition will see their artwork displayed on buses and trains across the Isle of Wight.

Following a year out due to the closure of Robin Hill last year, it has been confirmed that The Woodland Sessions will relaunch this summer as The Big Beach Weekender.

An eclectic array of artists have been named for this year's Cowes Fringe Festival.

It's not often that you meet a teenage musician as composed as Ruby, a student at Platform One who is making major strides already in 2024.

Ryde's Monkton Arts has announced a shake-up, with a short closure for refurbishment and expansion of facilities.

What if there was a way to step onto the same stage as international rock royalty Green Day at the IW Festival 2024?

Children and young people will once again be able to enjoy a varied programme of free activities during the upcoming Easter holidays.

Whippingham's Priory School has celebrated World Book Day in style today (Thursday).

Celebrating 25 years in 2024, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival has released the first set of walks that can be enjoyed in this year’s spring event.

The young people at Network Ryde, the Town Council’s Youth Service have successfully raised over £200 for Haylands Farm, a work based training centre for people with a learning disability on the Isle of Wight.

Easter is a particularly good time to look for red squirrels on the Isle of Wight as natural food sources are becoming more abundant and they are anxious to build up their strength and fat reserves after winter.

Vectis Radio has announced the finalists for its 2024 Community Awards.

A sailor from Wootton has been nominated for a national sports award.

Some more scam warnings have been issued by Trading Standards this week.

The results are in!

Mental health services for young people on the Island have received a huge boost thanks to a £200,000 Government grant to develop an Early Intervention Hub.

Vestas, Red Funnel and GKN Aerospace are among a variety of businesses opening their doors on the Isle of Wight next month for people to find out more about career opportunities.

The Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival organisers have announced that the 2023 event raised a total of more than £6,000, with donations to be made to selected charitable causes, across the Island.

An Isle of Wight bookshop has made the shortlist to win a prestigious national award.

A prominent figure in the Isle of Wight charity sector has celebrated receiving an accolade for his contributions to the local community.

A myriad of new scam warnings have been issued for the Isle of Wight this week.

Isle of Wight people experiencing homelessness are benefiting from a £1,500 grant and produce donated to the Pop Up Soup Kitchen (PUSK).

Age UK Isle of Wight is continuing its ongoing "Spread The Warmth" campaign.

A poignant gathering was held in Newport's Church Litten on Valentine’s Day to remember ‘The Little Sweep’ Valentine Gray.

Barton Primary School students, under the guidance of Independent Arts, enthusiastically participated in the Poetry Together campaign, producing work that has been recognised as one of the winning entries.

Isle of Wight singer, Ruby, will perform at the iconic HMV record store in Southampton this evening (Friday).

The annual Isle of Wight Story Festival gets underway at Newport’s Quay Arts today (Thursday).

The third episode of Isle of Wight: Jewel of the South will feature famous fossil hunting palaeontologist Martin Simpson, who is on the lookout for a prehistoric giant.

Island-based creative, Andy Ashdown, is one of just 48 artists selected from more than 2,000 applicants to compete in the current series of ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’ on Sky Arts.

A teenager from the Isle of Wight has been heralded for her incredible efforts as an apprentice at Southern Water.

Half term activities are on offer at to two Island museums in February.

Team GB Double Trampolinist, Otis McAuliffe, paid a special visit to Dover Park Primary School last week, leaving a lasting impact on the pupils.

Isle of Wight-based charity MAD-Aid is hoping to bring back a favourite fundraiser – Push The Wight.

A stray cat, now named Zuleika, provided a shock after being admitted to the RSPCA Isle of Wight Branch.

Our annual celebration of Island talent sees Isle of Wight Radio's Dom Kureen look at 24 of the brightest local sparks and what we can look forward to from them this year.

The Isle of Wight Radio Christmas Toy Appeal is back for 2023, with the aim of spreading festive cheer to thousands of less-fortunate children across the Island.

This month’s Emerging Artist is a 20-year-old wunderkind who has made an increasing impact on the local scene over the course of 2023.

Our Emerging Artist of the Month for June will be making their Isle of Wight Festival Main Stage debut on Sunday (June 18) after winning this year's Wight Noize competition.

Isle of Wight Radio's Emerging Artist of the Month for May will be a name familiar to thousands of people across the UK.

This month’s Emerging Artist is an indie-rock band which has already received recognition from BBC Introducing.

This month's Emerging Artist arrived at Isle of Wight HQ adorned with a weighted backpack as part of her training for a European trek later this year.

February's Emerging Artist of the Month hasn't followed trends conventional to Islanders in the music industry.

This month's emerging artist has been patient in building both her online and stage presence over the past couple of years.

The story of this month's emerging artist, Phoenix Lopes, is one of patience and overcoming lockdown stimulated disillusionment.

Did you realise that Eminem was on the Isle of Wight Festival line-up last year?