Items of general interest discussed at Equals meetings.
Next Team Sessions
- Wednesday 19th June 18:00 to 21:00
At the Riverside Centre Medina Room. The Riverside Centre has free parking accessed by the bridge which has been re-opened.
Saturday 29th June 2019 is Mardi Gras Time for Equals IW.
Thanks to the team whom have been brilliant at making the costumes, we are almost done.
This Wednesday a small team are meeting at 6pm at Coppins Bridge Car Park to travel over to Bonchurch to transform the Dragon to a Lizard.
Thanks to Shirley who has been helping to prepare the mobile woodland and been helping over the weekend build and paint the feature.
Thanks to Sam of MCEnhancement who has the new PA system up and running and has helped put together a wonderful range of music featuring many styles of music associated with Mardi Gras.
According to the long range forecast the weather is looking good for Saturday,
The details of times to meet and places to park for Saturday will be published here on Tuesday June 25th 2019.
Saturday 29th June 2019 is Mardi Gras Time for Equals IW.
We have two places for anybody who wants to join in at the last minute. We need a Group Safety Marshal and spare hands to carry the banners.
Team members whom are performing as part of the main group need to be at Ryde Private School for 1.30pm.
Those who have equipment and materials will be informed of their arrival times on Wednesday evening* when we transform the Dragon to a Lizard.
Please all meet up at the Equals IW base camp (number 23) in the main field.
There will be no parking at the school for those performing team members who are not bringing equipment.
There is paid parking at either LA Bowing Car Park or at Ryde Canoe Lake. From there it is a walk up to to the school but note that your car will be near where the procession ends. Please be aware of parking charges. Alternatively park in either East Hill Road or West Hill Road where there are no parking charges and walk through Ryde to the School.
Team members are invited to the Captain's Table Café next to Ryde Swimming Pool after the Mardi Gras for a free drink as a massive thank you from the trustees. Everyone's help made it possible for us to take part in the Mardi Gras 2019 .
Maybe we can dance along to the café and relax in friendship.
The weather on Saturday looks wonderful so remember sunscreen and water bottles.
* Wednesday June 26th 2019 is when a small team are meeting at 6pm at Coppins Bridge Car Park to travel over to Bonchurch to transform the Dragon to a Lizard.
The Trustees of Equals IW are delighted with the amazing contributions by the 2019 Mardi Gras Team.
They would like to encourage the team members to enter the Mardi Gras theme in the 2019 island Illuminated Carnivals.
The aim is to further promote Equals IW and support other community events whilst developing friendships of group members and encouraging others to join Equals IW.
The dates for the IW illuminated carnivals are
- 10/08/2019 Shanklin
- 17/08/2019 Ventnor
- 22/08/2019 Newport
- 24/08/2019 Cowes
- 28/08/2019 Sandown
- 31/08/2019 Ryde
If you are interested please download this short form and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post it to Mark at the address shown on the form as soon as you can.
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.
Team Events
- Mardis Gras Inspiration with Gina at Riverside Centre Wednesday 8th May 5.30-6.30.
Next event 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.