The Isle of Wight Community Fund supports local organisations working to reduce poverty and improve health and wellbeing.
Grants of between £1,000 – £5,000 were awarded in 2024 to grassroots groups based on the Island. Funded by local donors through endowment giving and managed by HIWCF, this fund helps deliver vital services to islanders of all ages – from counselling to community led wellbeing projects.
For many visually impaired residents on the Isle of Wight, leaving the house is not just a challenge, it’s almost impossible without the right support. Sight for Wight’s Thursday Mix and Mingle Social Group, funded through the Isle of Wight Community Fund, has become a weekly lifeline for older people living with profound sight loss and extreme isolation.
Every Thursday morning, three vehicles set off across the Island to collect group members from their homes – many of whom live alone and have no access to local transport. By 10 am, the group is gathered at Sight for Wight’s centre, ready for a day of creative activity and companionship before being returned safely home by a familiar, trusted driver.
The group was created in response to direct feedback from members, gathered through Sight for Wight’s regular wellbeing calls. These conversations ensure that services are shaped around the real, lived needs of local people. The result is a group that has become a source of joy and connection for people that may otherwise have felt isolated.
One beneficiary shared: “I think it’s a terrific programme and I was so glad to be able to have the minibus to take me to sessions with the same person that I got to know and trust. He had a real empathy towards sight loss patients and knew leaving the house was going to be a challenge for me. I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to help me. Now I feel much less lonely and more confident getting out and about.”
As the Island’s population continues to age – it now has one of the oldest median ages in the South East – initiatives like this are not just appreciated, they’re essential. For many participants, the Thursday group is the only time they leave their home each week. Beyond the activities, the project provides a sense of safety, routine and belonging.
With additional summer and Christmas outings, and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, Sight for Wight is ensuring no one faces the challenges of later life and sight loss alone. Thanks to the support of the Isle of Wight Community Fund, their work continues to make a meaningful difference.
