This year the Mardi Gras theme is Biosphere Island! Each organisation entering has been teamed up with another Island organisation to learn about our Biosphere Island. Equals IW will be joining with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The section of the parade Equals IW will be part off is to be called "Forestry and Woodland" and the entry will reflect Bouldnor Forest.

Equals IW is recruiting now for the Mardi Gras Equals IW entry and as a start the Equals IW team met at Bouldnor Forest on the 2nd and 9th April 2019.

Bouldnor Forest is an Idyllic nature reserve on the IW Heritage Coast, Hamstead. It is one of the Island’s most important pond sites and the tam learnt about its variety of habitats

• Pine forest
• Heathland
• Cliffs
• Sea grass beds

all supporting the diverse wildlife.

Next Team Visit

To be announced

Equals IW needs team members to help shape the entry theme and/or to be part of the parade team. Team members can be of any age. To be part of the Team please email either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More information about the Mardi Gras event to take place on  29 June 2019 is available online from the The New Carnival Company

The Annual General Meeting and Committee Meeting will take place on

• Saturday 23rd March 2019
• 10am to 1pm with tea and coffee at 11.30am
• Riverside Centre, Newport, Isle of Wight

If anybody would like to make and bring refreshments to eat please do let Mark know what you are bringing so he can organise some plates and so on.

If you would like a new exciting challenge for 2019 then come and join the Equals IW Committee.

We are looking for people to volunteer and develop the work of Equals IW:

• Secretary – work includes typing committee minutes, organising committee meetings, taking meeting minutes, organising meeting venues, replying to Website and Facebook enquiries, sending official correspondence on behalf of Equals IW.
• Press Secretary – work includes promoting Equals IW's local meetings, activities and events in the local press, local magazine publications, online and on the local radio. Also prepare and issue statements about relevant affairs on behalf of Equals IW.
• Grants and Funding Co-ordinators – to work in a team to seek out and propose funding sources and make funding applications.
• Education and Training Co-ordinators – to work in a team to promote equality and diversity in the community and the work of Equals IW. Deliver awareness training of equality and diversity, facilitate and deliver talks and presentations on equality and diversity in the community. Delivery of formal and informal programmes involving equality and diversity activities to schools, colleges, community groups, adult learners and staff associated with businesses.
• Fundraising Co-ordinators – work in a team to plan, organise, facilitate and run fund raising activities and events for Equals IW.
• Equals Development Co-ordinators – work in a team to develop new opportunities for Equals IW, develop partnership working opportunities, identify, suggest and co-ordinate events for Equals IW to be involved in.

To find out more contact us or visit our Facebook page.

You can download and display our flyer.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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.

Read more: Jobcentre Plus Providers Fair August 2018

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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.

Main Points of General Interest

Equals IW has made progress on several organisational fronts

• Operational procedures around privacy
• Links to other Isle of Wight organisations
• Fund raising
• Trustees and the Charity Commission
• Finance
• Equals IW Membership

The Women's Friendship Group membership has been falling so the group are considering a marketing drive after the summer.  The issue was raised that having Mardis Gras workshops in a venue restricted to Women, while cost effective, prevents male participation. Also the timing of workshops during the day prevents those in paid work from joining in.

The Men's Friendship Group has been dormant due to work commitments. The committee discussed whether focusing future meetings on a specific activity would increase interest.

Activities are currently being planned for

• Mardis Gras Parade. Kimmy the dragon's framework has been created during a series of Women's Friendship Group meeting. Work continues on Kimmy and the costumes for the parade.
• Asian Day. A gazebo has been promised for Equals IW promotion.

This is a very brief abstract from the minutes of the meeting.
A copy of the minutes is available on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..