Isle of Wight charities benefit from almost £8,000 in donations

A total of £7,925 has been distributed to good causes on the Isle of Wight.

Six local causes have benefitted from the latest donations from WightAID, at a ceremony held at IFPL near Shalfleet.

Cheques were presented by WightAID donors Paul Thomas from Isle of Wight Tomatoes and Paul Thorley from Vehicle Consulting Solent.

Isle of Wight Pantries received the largest portion of the donations, a total of £5,000.

The funds are to be used by the charity to purchase food to aid low-income families residing on the Island.

Ventnor and District Local History Society also received sizeable funding, securing a new scanner and laptop for digitising audio and photographic artefacts.

Daisy Chains IW received a grant that would be channelled into extending their pitch at the Isle of Wight Festival.

Mandy Fuller from Daisy Chains IW said: "We were delighted to receive a grant from WightAID to support our fundraising at the Isle of Wight Festival this year.

"This enabled us to serve more people this year, increasing our income.

"Huge thanks to WightAID for their support, it really makes a huge difference to what we do."

Grants under £500 have also been extended to the East Cowes Partnership for purchasing equipment for a new drop-in session for children aged from birth to four years.

Shanklin Regatta, established in 1853, received a grant that will support the purchase of banners and posters for its free beach fun day on August 8.

The Starlight Academy will be able to send five Starlight dancers to the finals of the Global Dance Open competition in The Netherlands, thanks to the funds.

Geoff Underwood, founder of WightAID, said: "It is great to support all these good causes but we can only do it with the help of the individuals and businesses who put their hands in their pockets.

"We are grateful for that support."

WightAid has handed out over £650,000 to more than 230 charities, supported chiefly by local businesses and individuals passionate about the Island.