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
The meeting discussed many points concerning the structure and finance of Equals.
Main Points of General Interest
- The Men's Friendship Group was formally shut down. Open Friendship Group activities will be organised to complement the activities of the Womens Friendship Group whose meetings and communication will remain closed.
- Age Concern, a Health Associate, Remploy and others are offering support for Equals IW activities.
- Fund raising events being considered are
- Tea and Coffee Testing with Cakes Event that can include Bingo, Bunny Drive
- Sponsored Family Walk ending with a Barbeque
- Supermarkets Local Community Funding
- A Theatre Production brought to the Island
- Dance lessons.
The committee listed the following open events that took place in 2019
- January 2019 Lunar Party
- February 2019 Learning Together Community Festival
- May 2019 International Nurses Day
- June 2019 Philippines Independence Day
- August 2019 Indonesia Independence Day Celebration
- Newport Illuminated Carnival
- Ryde Illuminated Carnival - October 2019 Beauty Pageant Lakeside Park Hotel
The Equals IW AGM is to be held on Saturday 14th March 2020.
The next meeting is scheduled Committee meeting is to take place in September 2020.
This is a very brief abstract from the minutes of the meeting.
A copy of the minutes is available on
The New Carnival Company has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Mardi Gras which was to be held in Ryde, Isle of Wight.
More information from the NCC website.
The AGM will be held as follows
- 11.00 to 13.00 Saturday 14th March 2020
- Riverside Centre Newport IW
We are using the Little London Room.
All committee members are required to attend this meeting. If for some reason you cannot attend please inform the Mark by this coming Sunday 8th March. If you do not wish to remain on the committee please inform Mark by this coming Sunday.
If anyone has travelled back from abroad since the 1st March 2020 and plans to attend this meeting, please contact Mark to discuss attendance.
Do please share with all friends as anybody is welcome to attend and we need more team members on the committee to help move Equals IW forward into the next phase of many new developing projects.
The agenda and minutes of the 2019 AGM are available as pdf files (<100k each).
Equals IW Friendship Group first open event of the new year on Saturday 25th January was held in the Breeze at the Island Harbour. Group members shared in a meal to celebrate the Lunar New Year with wider family members. Great food, laughter and happiness made the evening very enjoyable for all.
The 2020 Lunar New Year fell on January 25th and ended on February 11th 2021 with a public holiday lasting from January 24th to 30th. The peak times for celebration were the New Year's Eve on January 24th and New Year's Day on January 25th. The New Year Calendar, as it is commonly known, started on New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival on February 8th 2020.
The next Equals IW committee meeting is to take place
- Tuesday 11th February, 18.30 to 20.30
- Hare Hounds Pub (Robin Hill)
Agenda on request to the Equals IW Secretary.
The Equals AGM will be held on Saturday 14th March 2020.