Equals IW Friendship Group For Women return with their first public event since the Covid-19 lockdown.
They have a stand from 9am to 4pm 2nd October at the Saturday Market in St Thomas's Square, Newport, Isle of Wight.
The stand has information about the Friendship Group's activities and promotes the new partnership programme with MCEnhancement.
**Now cancelled due to weather**
The weather forecast of high winds has prevented the Equals IW Friendship Group For Women attending the Saturday Market in St Thomas's Square, Newport, Isle of Wight on 2nd October 2021.
The safety of the stand and personnel would have been in doubt.
We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.
The committee met on Thursday 19th August 2021. As well as items of internal matters the following items were discussed
- Committee Member Recruitment - EqualsIW is to contact the Isle of Wight College and Six Form Colleges offering an opportunity in future projects for students to develop their careers by gaining practical experience within a charity.
- Iwight.com - EqualsIW to open an account for advertising events such as Asian Day, Diversity Day and Friendship Groups Activities.
- EqualsIW is to consider formalising membership with a personal declaration and a nominal fee of £1.
- EqualsIW Secretary - The position will become vacant in November. A replacement is needed for EqualsIW to continue as a charity.
- The Friendship Group's WhatsApp Page is to be the preferred communication channel for internal EqualsIW. The website will continue
to publish events, case studies and activities. - Remote attendance at meetings is to be supported by using a WhatsApp group linked to a nominee attending the meeting.
- Indoor activities remain suspended due to Covid-19 concerns. The November meeting is to consider re-starting in Jaanuary 2022.
- EqualsIW is planning a group mainland visit for 2022.
A copy of the minutes is available on request to the secretary.
EqualsIW has joined with other organisations in producing a three day personal development programme called Green Time.
- Day 1 focuses on key elements of personal development:
Communication skills
Team building
Personal strengths, skills, and abilities
Attitudes. - Day 2 comprises a circular walk of five miles and involves the making of wooden planters and a health fitness exercise.
- Day 3 concerns the growing one's own food, food miles, and food from different cultures around the world. The group will make and share a meal together.
We are please to announce our first committee meeting since before the start of the Covid 19 lockdown.
- Thursday 19th August 2021
- 6.30pm to 8.00pm
- Rylstone Gardens Shanklin
The meeting will decide the direction of Equals IW including the Friendship Groups between September 2021 and February 2022. The outdoor location is to enable good social distancing in an environment that is safer than indoors in relation to Covid 19. Attendees will need to bring a fold up garden chair. If that is not possible contact Mark as he can provide a good number. Mark can also help if a lift is needed from Newport. The surrounding roads have good free parking all short distance from the park.
Further details are available.
Equals IW returned from lockdown on Sunday 4th July 2021 with a small group of friends coming together for the first time since last year. The group took part in a Sponsored Walk and Picnic raising money to help run activities for the two Friendship Groups of Equals IW.
Equals IW returns from lockdown with an outdoor activity for all to join in. Families, friends, children, young people, adults and dogs are all welcome.
Our sponsored Walk and Picnic will support future Equals IW activities and takes place on
- Sunday 4th July 2021
- From 3pm to 8pm
- At Martins Wood and Newchurch Moors Nature Reserve.
The walk will be followed by a picnic so bring and share food for all to enjoy. Please bring your own garden chairs, paper plates, cups and cutlery.
Image: Andy Wordsworth under CC BY 2.0
Equals IW has taken part in the annual Isle of Wight Mardi Gras event held in Ryde for many years. Sadly this was cancelled in 2020. The New Carnival Company use carnival and celebratory arts to engage people and communities and although the Mardi Gras cannot take place as normal this summer they are planning for some form of event to happen in 2021.
Equals IW took part in a special digital re-launch Zoom held on Wednesday 10 February 2021. The theme for 2021 is 'The Story of Carnival'.
More details from are on the New Carnival Company website.
Equals IW Friendship Group has taken part in the Ryde Mardi Gras Carnival over the years. With the cancellation of this years festival we thought we would look back on these past celebrations.
2019 Biosphere Island
Hundreds of revellers with costumes and floats linked by the theme ‘Biosphere Island’ made their way through the streets of Ryde. The natural beauty of the island was celebrated in true carnival style.
2018 Global Biospeheres
In 2018 the theme was Global Biospheres in support of the Island's bid to become a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Equals entry was themed around Komodo Island, Indonesia. The very colourful parade brought joy to those watching in the streets of Ryde as the town basked in summer sunshine.
2017 Reflection of India
The theme for the year was "Reflection of India" and the Women's Friendship Group was in the Imperial India “Deli Durbar” section.
2016 All the World’s A Stage
The theme this year was part of the Shakespeare's 400th anniversary celebrations.
And long ago...
Equals IW Friendship Group has always been keen to be involved in Isle of Wight cultural events. We have a video on YouTube of the Friendship Group at the 2012 Ryde Performing Arts Parade .
The minutes of the Equals IW AGM held on Saturday 23rd March 2020 are available on