The meeting discussed many points converning how Equals IW should attract members and form links to other island organisations
Main Points of General Interest
- Committee Member Recruitment. Equals IW plans to approach the Isle of Wight College and other Six Form Colleges on the island to provide an opportunity ideal for students or volunteers looking to develop their career by gaining practical experience within a charity as a volunteer in these exciting roles.
- There is to be an account on iwight.com where all Equals IW activities can be advertised including flyers and information. This site is idea for advertising events such as Asian Day, Diversity Day and Friendship Groups Activities and so on.
- The Friendship group plan to hold a photo shoot in spring with members wearing a National Costume with landscape backgrounds from various island locations. The photos taken could then be used for a future calendar celebrating diversity on the island.
- The Friendship group supported Black History Month at St Mary's Hospital on 19th October 2019
The next meeting is scheduled to take place in February 2019.
This is a very brief abstract from the minutes of the meeting.
A copy of the minutes is available on
The next Equals IW Committee meeting below was cancelled:
- Saturday 26th January 2019
- 10.00am to 12.00 Noon
- Riverside Centre, The Quay Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QR
- Room To Be Confirmed
To gain access to The Riverside Centre free parking
- Turn Left at the Fairlee Petrol Station Traffic Lights if travelling out of Newport towards Ryde or Right if travelling into Newport.
- Drive down past the Skate Park, Car Park and Council Planning Office on your right driving as far as you can go reaching the Travel Lodge.
- Then turn left to drive right along the Quay heading towards Newport to the Riverside Centre Car Park.
The next committee meeting will be on Thursday 29th November 2018. 6pm to 8.30pm.
The venue is the Riverside Centre, Newport in the Medina Room.
If travelling out of Newport towards Ryde turn Left at the Fairlee Petrol Station Traffic Lights Turn Right if travelling into Newport. Drive down past the Skate Park, Car Park and Council Planning Office as far as the Travel Lodge. Then turn left along the Quay towards Newport to the Riverside Centre Car Park where parking is free.
An earthquake followed by a tsunami caused devastation for Palu in Indonesia leaving hundreds and thousands of people in urgent need of clean water, food and shelter.
You can make a donation by visiting the Disasters Emergency Committee website.
Main Points of General Interest
Equals IW plans include
- Delivering a Diversity Awareness Session to Newport Parish Council during October.
- Attendance at the inaugural meeting for next years Mardi Gras parade. The 2019 theme is ‘The Big IW Biosphere Mardi Gras’ with a launch event on Tuesday 30th October 2018, 6pm at The Quays Art Centre, Newport.
- Restarting the Men's Friendship Group
- Organising an event to Celebrate United Nations Diversity Day on Tuesday 21st May 2019
- A stand at a half day Provider Fair in the Newport Jobcentre Plus on Wednesday 28th November 2018
The Women's Friendship Group has restarted after the summer break and will also support the second year Black History Month. The group have decided not to cook this year but attend in National Costume on the 19th October 2018 at St Mary’s Hospital in the Circle Café.
The Isle of Wight Asian Day event was cancelled due to the weather but a smaller celebration was held at the organiser's house for those who had travelled down especially from the mainland for the day.
The next committee meeting will be held in the first half of November 2018 at a location to be announced.
This is a very brief abstract from the minutes of the meeting.
A copy of the minutes is available on
Equals IW joined local providers at the first Provider Fair held at the Ryde Jobcentre Plus.
Equals IW prepared a stand in partnership with MCEnhancement Training and Development and the Prison Officers Association (POA). Around 12 other local organisations were present.
The aim was for Jobcentre Work Coaches to visit stands learning about the organisations and the range of people those organisations support.
The Jobcentre Plus Coaches could then signpost people they are supporting to the relevant organisations.
Some of the issues with helping people unable to work were
- Illness
- Disability
- Mental well-being
- Self confidence and self esteem
- Isolation
as well as common problems associated with being unemployed and out of work.
The Provider Fair also let those seeking support from Jobcentre Plus Services engage positively with the appropriate local organisations.
The Isle of Wight Mardi Gras is a wonderful themed parade and was held this year on Saturday 30th June 2018.
This year the theme was Global Biospheres in support of the Island's bid to become a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Equals IW was represented through the work of the Equals IW Women’s Friendship Group with their entry 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.
The event was a collaboration between Island-based event organisers, the New Carnival Company and the IW Area of Outstanding Beauty Unit.
Click or tap on an image to see the gallery
Main Points of General Interest
Equals IW continues to make progress on several organisational fronts
- Providing opportunities for students to gain experience in our voluntary sector
- Fund raising documentation has been prepared
- Efforts are being made in widening Committee membership to broaden our activities
- The website is now compliant with GDPR rules
The Women's Friendship Group activity for the period was focused on preparing for the Mardi Gras event.
Most of the other activity by members was in support of the Isle of Wight Asian Day event. Unfortunately this was cancelled due to atrocious weather on the day.
The next committee meeting will be held in September 2018 after the summer break.
This is a very brief abstract from the minutes of the meeting.
A copy of the minutes is available on
Equals IW is appealing for funds to help in its vital work on the Isle of Wight. Here is the text of a letter being sent out to local institutions seeking support.
You have probably never heard of us, and you wouldn't unless you are newly arrived on the Isle of Wight, you are a woman, possibly from another country, a person with little or no family support, do not speak good English, member of one of the LBGT communities, or a man with similar problems.
That was why the Equals IW group was formed, to provide a solution for those who have found integrating in British society to be difficult.
Our vision is that the Isle of Wight will become an even more inclusive, supportive and friendly place to live, work and visit for all people. We want the Isle of Wight to be a place of true equality of opportunity, with peace and respect for all.
We are working together with other organisations and individuals to achieve this vision. As you will gather from ensuing pages we have been fulfilling this task and following the original objectives. Our activities have encompassed disparate ethnic and cultural groups and notably we have been able to encourage many foreign born women to step forward and participate in traditional British community activity.
All our active members are volunteers and we have no professional workers. Our expenses revolve around hall hires and costs most of which are defrayed by contributions but we still need some top-up finance to keep us going. We are presently preparing a celebration of United Nations Diversity Day in May 2019 and this would involve at least a dozen national and cultural groups on the Island. We are already committed to working with the Mardi Gras and Pride events.
We would welcome your financial support and sponsorship.
The Totland Bay Mosaic Arts Company and Heart in my Mouth are working with Equals IW to Support Asian Day 2018.
The Isle of Wight Asian Day 2018 is a free event for everyone.
We would love you to come along and visit our stand where you can have ago at Indian Printing, Asian Arts, Glass Painting to create your own Asian Style Tea Light.
You can also have ago at Glass Painting to create your own Asian Style Tea Light.
Whilst visiting us why not take a look at lovely handmade craft items made by Helen and Lesley, include some special craft items with an Asian theme on sale just for this special day.
Treat yourself or buy as a gift for someone special to you.