Island Update: December 2024

Your community news, achievements and feel-good stories. Please do continue to send them in to: editorial@iwbeacon.com

Prestigious Business Accolade for Island Company

An Isle of Wight company, WRS Systems, received a ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Customer Loyalty Award’ category at the Lloyds British Excellence Awards held last month.

The awards programme is the largest of its kind in the UK, with thousands of entrants, celebrating the best of British business. So, the Newport-based company, which was founded in 2003, was delighted to also be a finalist in the ‘Family Business of the Year’ category.

Specialising in electronic point of sales systems (EPOS), such as tills, self-serve kiosks and tablets, the family-run business has grown significantly over the last 20 years. A team of WRS colleagues attended the ceremony at London’s Grosvenor Hotel and enjoyed a night of celebration, that was hosted by TV and radio presenter, Anita Rani. David Jackson, WRS Systems CEO, said:

“We are incredibly honoured to receive this customer loyalty award. Our commitment to providing exceptional service and value to our clients is at the heart of everything we do. This recognition reflects the hard work of our entire team and, most importantly, the trust and loyalty of our customers.”

Boxing Day Dip

Join other brave souls on 26th December who are taking the plunge to support the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust at the Gurnard Green Boxing Day Dip! Simply raise £10 minimum in sponsorship, gather your family and friends and experience the most invigorating Boxing Day ever, helping to inspire young people believe in a bright future beyond cancer. Gurnard Green, 11am www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org

Islanders Win King’s Award

Two groups of Island volunteers have been honoured with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award that a voluntary group can receive in the UK, and the equivalent of an individual being awarded an MBE.

WightSAR (Isle of Wight Search and Rescue) has been recognised for their selfless work across the Island. Volunteers are on call 24/7 throughout the year to search for missing people who are deemed by the police to be at significant risk of harm to themselves – they have saved countless lives on the Island.

South Wight Area Youth has also been recognised. SWAY volunteers work tirelessly to support young people in the south of the Isle of Wight. Volunteers mentor children in schools, run regular activities and clubs each week, work with families and schools, and lead a variety of expeditions and camps at weekends and school holidays, including a week-long visit to the Lake District.

Operation Geranium

In June this year, local community champion Stephen Double B.E.M, was awarded a British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to the community in Ryde.

Since 2020 Stephen has been at the forefront of Operation Geranium, a community outreach programme developed in response to the Covid 19 outbreak to support older and isolated people. “Each year we grow pots of geraniums (500) and now deliver to community hubs by green transport pedal cargo bikes, to support older people,” said Stephen. “I believe that having a commitment to connect communities and engage people with inclusion, diversity, and equality, should never go out of fashion.”

Stephen also gives Operation Geranium Talks in local community venues. He also engages with the local creative community in an artistic postcard initiative. 50,000 free post cards have been distributed by over 100 local businesses, encouraging people to stay in touch. This has also had the effect that Isle of White artists’ work has been sent globally. “The collection remains affordable and accessible as it is on loan to libraries, museums, and cafes in Newport, W. Cowes, Ventnor, and periodically in Ryde Library, The Better Day’s Cafe, and Brading Roman Villa,” said Stephen.

Stephen is also involved in the local music scene, staging music events since 1989. He promotes rock gigs, including a Christmas Special with Voodoo Raven at The Crispin, Newport on 7th December, and is looking to organise concerts for younger audiences in 2025. Watch this space.

B Corp Tomatoes

Isle of Wight Tomatoes has announced its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp). It sees the company join a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit. 

Isle of Wight Tomatoes has been certified by B Lab, the not- for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represents its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

Isle of Wight Tomatoes is working to become a zero-waste business and focus on several areas such as recycling rainwater to irrigate crops and using 100% of the crops they grow. Paul Thomas, Managing Director of Isle of Wight Tomatoes, said: “Since day one we have always been about growing and creating the best possible products and doing this in the right way.”

Art in Spring 2025

Isle of Wight Open Studios continues to grow as a cornerstone of the Isle of Wight’s cultural calendar and following the success of this year’s much-loved IW Open Studios, new dates and a bold vision are being set for 2025.

From 16-26 May 2025, doors will once again be opened across the Island, inviting both residents and visitors to explore the unique creative worlds of local artisans.

Right now, artists are invited to register (via the website) before the end of December deadline – and follow IW Open Studios on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates, artist profiles, and inspiration.

www.isleofwightopenstudios.co.uk

‘Winter is Coming’ Event is a Success

Over 140 Island residents gathered at the Riverside Centre for this year’s Winter is Coming event, hosted by local fuel poverty charity, The Footprint Trust. 

The annual event brought together 19 organisations dedicated to providing essential guidance and resources to those facing winter-related challenges, with information and aid available across areas such as housing, health, utility costs, and community support.

“The energy team at Footprint Trust is thrilled with the event’s success,” said Steve Howes, Senior Energy Guide at The Footprint Trust. “It’s inspiring to see so many organisations committed to helping Islanders. We spoke to over 50 people during the event and are now arranging specialised home energy reduction follow-ups with nine households. For those unable to attend, they’re welcome to contact us on 01983 822282 for free assistance that can help save them hundreds on energy bills.”

Well Done Youth Arts Charity

Artswork, which works across the Isle of Wight, has been shortlisted at this year’s Children & Young People Now Awards.

The team has been nominated in the Youth Volunteering and Social Action Award category for the work it does in its Young Cultural Changemakers Programme. The programme responds to conversations with young people, where they have articulated their hopes, dreams and what they’d like to change about where they live. It then connects them with artists to explore and communicate ideas, as well as offering to undertake training and development opportunities that support their futures.

They are then given funding that enables them to plan, organise and deliver creative youth-led projects that make a lasting difference in their communities and to their peers.

Wightlink Wins Award

Wightlink’s strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions as soon as possible has been recognised by the judges at Maritime UK Solent. The trophy for Net Zero Navigator was presented to Wightlink’s Chief Executive Katy Taylor at a ceremony attended by the region’s leading maritime companies. 

Following the arrival of its hybrid flagship Victoria of Wight in 2018, which cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent, Wightlink has focused on sustainability throughout its operations. It has drawn up plans for all-electric ferries once shore power is available at its ports and commissioned a study into decarbonising the rest of the fleet. 

Meanwhile, it is installing more electric vehicle (EV) chargers at ports, fitting solar panels and redoubling efforts to improve recycling rates.

Red Funnel Helps IOW Foodbank

Together with customers and colleagues, Red Funnel has raised over £21,000 to support Isle of White Foodbank’s vital work in the community.

Delivering the news in person, CEO Fran Collins spent time with the team and volunteers to see the operation behind the scenes. She commented: “I was quite simply blown away by the amazing team at the Isle of Wight Foodbank. Beyond food essentials, they help individuals find work, access benefits, improve budgeting skills, and help to address mental health challenges – making a truly meaningful, holistic impact for those in crisis.”