Main points of interest

• Citizens' Advice and Victims' Support held discussions with Equals IW regarding future co-operation.
• An English language course is being considered starting next year.
• Equals IW is planning a fund raising event to be held on International Day 20th May 2018.
• The next committee meeting will be held on the Saturday, 25th of November 2017 at 10:30am, Riverside Centre.

The Equal IW Ladies' Friendship Group put on Cultural Kitchen events at two Cowes Schools towards the end of the Summer Term.

They were at Lanesend Primary School Cowes on 4th July 2017 cooking Chinese noodles with year 6 pupils.

The Ladies' Friendship Group visited Vecta House Care Home in Newport Isle of Wight twice over the summer.

In July they attended the garden party dressed in traditional costumes.

In September they gave a cookery demonstration as part of International Week at Vecta House.

Both events were a success and the contribution by the Ladies' Friendship Group was much appreciated by the residents.

Regular Equals IW Ladies' Friendship Group meetings started this month after the summer break.

This months activities included

• A meeting with Samantha Greatrex who is the Equalities Lead for the local NHS Trust. Held on the 14th Sept 2017 at St Mary's Hospital we discussed the possible involvement of Equals in Black History Month at the hospital.
• Some members attended the Celebration of Heritage Lottery Funding India Mardi Gras, also on the 14th Sept 2017, at Ryde Academy. Sandra and Niviera were given certificates on behalf Equals IW for their contribution.
• On 22nd Sept 2017 the Ladies' Friendship Group participated at Vecta House Care Home in Newport for their International Week by giving a cooking demonstration.

In addition to the weekly Wednesday meetings at the Scout Hut in Smithards Lane, Cowes PO31 7PG from 10am to 12pm, the Equals IW Ladies' Friendship Group now meets in Newport on a monthly basis at the WoW Centre, 4-5 St James Street, Newport PO30 5HE

• Tuesday, 3rd October 2017 from 6-8 pm
• Tuesday, 7th November 2017 from 6-8 pm
• Tuesday, 5th December 2017 from 6-8 pm

All women are welcome.

"Black History Month" at St Mary's Hospital is from 16th - 20th October 2017.

Main points of interest

• Equals IW met with the new Equality Lead for St. Mary’s Hospital NHS Trust last 25th of Aug 2017 discussing partnership opportunties.
• Attendance at the Men's Friendship Group Meeting has not been as good as hoped. Marketing ideas were discussed and publicity is being further improved for future meetings.
• The Women's Friendship Group resumed after the summer break on Wednesday 6th September. The meeting scheduled for Wedensday 13th September has been cancelled as it clashes with the Food Hygiene course being held on the same day. The group has found that the cancellation of the Cowes chain ferry across the Medina River is proving a problem for East Cowes residents getting to the meetings.
• Facebook Pages. There is to be one Facebook page covering Equals IW as a whole and linked by a Facebook icon on the website pages. A separate link to the Men's Friendship Group Facebook pages will be placed on pages dealing with that group.
• Committee meeting are now being held at the Fairlee Room, Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport PO30 2QR from 10.30 to 12pm on the last Saturday of each month unless there are exceptional cases. There is sufficient parking, tea, and coffee with biscuits plus toilet facilities are also provided.

Come and Join our New Equals Men’s Friendship Group. Our next informal meet and greet sessions are on

• Monday 6th November 2017
• Time 19:00 to 21:00
• At the Isobel Community Centre Café, Furrlongs, Newport PO30 2AX.

Free parking front and rear of centre.

Come and suggest ways to build the new men’s group and meet others from within your local community whilst sharing in a range of fun activities including a quiz. We are particularly keen to have members coming from an ethnic background. You can purchase refreshments from the café throughout the evening.

To find out more or confirm you are attending contact

The Equals Men’s Friendship Group Coordinator Mark Cox

• Mobile: 07854 852518 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/equalsmensgroup
• email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 
• email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here is our pdf flyer for the current event.

Come and Join our New Equals Men’s Friendship Group. Our next informal meet and greet sessions are on

• Monday 2nd October and Monday 6th November 2017
• Time 19:00 to 21:00
• At the Isobel Community Centre Café, Furrlongs, Newport PO30 2AX.

Free parking front and rear of centre.

Come and suggest ways to build the new men’s group and meet others from within your local community whilst sharing in a range of fun activities including a quiz. We are particularly keen to have members coming from an ethnic background. You can purchase refreshments from the café throughout the evening.

To find out more or confirm you are attending contact

The Equals Men’s Friendship Group Coordinator Mark Cox

• Mobile: 07854 852518 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/equalsmensgroup
• email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 
• email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here is our pdf flyer for the current event.

Main points of interest

• The Asian festival. This was absolutely fabulous with more than five hundred people who came. There is the possibility of having the next one in a better venue such as Ventnor, Northwood or the Riverside Centre. A tentative expected date for next year’s event is 30 June 2018.
• The Women's Friendship Group will resume after the summer break on Wednesday 6th September.
• The Men's Friendship Group. Marketing of the group is being improved.
• Facebook Pages. The Facebook pages are to be re-organised.

Our meeting venue has been changed:

The Saturday, 30th September 2017 meeting at 10:00-11:30 am will now be held at the Fairlee Room, Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport PO30 2QR.

We plan to hold all our regular meetings will be held at the new venue. It has been booked on the last Saturday of each month unless there are exceptional cases. There is sufficient parking, tea, and coffee with biscuits plus toilet facilities are also provided.