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.

The minutes of the Equals IW AGM held on Saturday 23rd March 2020 are available on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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

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.

Due to concerns regarding privacy copies of the Equals IW Annual General Meeting are not kept on-line but are available on request.

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..