Island Roads Gives Christmas Boost To Four Island Charities

Four Island charities supporting people with disabilities or life-limiting illness are the first of eight recipients who will between them receive grants totalling almost £85,000 from Island Roads’ Isle of Wight Foundation.

Each year, the foundation, established by the companies behind Island Roads – Ringway Island Roads, Meridiam, Island Roads Services and Vinci Concessions - gives grants of between £3,000 and £16,000 to community groups working to tackle social exclusion on the Isle of Wight.

Since 2014, more than £900,000 has been awarded to Island based projects assisting hundreds of local people.

The first four of this year’s recipients, between them sharing £44,000, are Alzheimer Café in Cowes, Care in the Garden, at Wootton, St Catherine’s Speech & Language School, Ventnor, and People Matter Isle of Wight, in Newport.

Rob Gillespie, chair of the Foundation’s trustees, said:

“We are proud to have exceeded the £900,000 landmark and particularly pleased that we are supporting eight amazing charitable projects in 2025.

“We know the challenges those with physical, learning and cognitive disabilities face and we are very pleased to be supporting the fantastic work of these first four groups.

“We have worked with each in the past and it is clear how much of a positive difference they make to the lives of a great many Island people.

“Seeing the dedication and enthusiasm of our local charities and the people who commit their time and energy to them, is inspiring.

"We know this money will make a real difference to Islanders’ lives.”

The first four projects being supported are:

• Alzheimer Café IW — £16,000 for Arts and Woodwork Studios at its newly opened Parklands Centre in Cowes.

The studios will allow an artist and a carpenter to work in a light and airy space that will encourage both people

with dementia visiting Parklands and others from the wider community to come together to create beautiful things.

• Care In the Garden (CITG) — £16,000 for its Work Buddy Scheme.

The scheme will help fund a co-ordinator to source paid employment and work experience placements for clients of Wootton-based CITG.

The co-ordinator will liaise with employers, clients and their families, as well as other external agencies such as educational establishments etc.

• People Matter IW — £3,690 towards potting equipment for the gardening area in the Learning Disability Support Centre and to purchase a 65-inch smart screen as a learning aid.

People Matter aims to improve the skills and self-esteem of people with learning disabilities.

• St Catherine’s Speech and Language School — £8,924 for an additional Job Coach to specifically work with students who have additional vulnerabilities alongside their Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).

These students need to have more frequent and intensive work experience opportunities.

The Job Coach will attend placements with these students, helping them break down barriers.

Maggie Bennett, CEO at Alzheimer Café IW, said:

“We are delighted to have been entrusted with this grant from IW Foundation.

"We have already seen the huge impact that having a resident artist at Parklands brings.

“The building is brighter and more vibrant and our Alzheimer Cafe community benefits hugely from taking part in opportunities to be creative during the regular art sessions in the Wellbeing Club that take place each week.”

John Goodenough, CEO of Care in the Garden, said:

“This money makes so much difference to our clients.

"The Work Buddy scheme can help them go on the next step.”

The four recipients of the remaining IW Foundation 2024 grant money will be announced shortly.