Isle of Wight Foundation supports initiatives to tackle social exclusion on the Island

Four local projects working to improve the lives of Islanders with special educational needs or mental health issues have received grants totalling over £42,500 from the Isle of Wight Foundation.

The money will be shared between Care in the Garden who will receive £15,850, Isorropia who will get £16,000, People Matter IW who have been granted £7,587.52 and Vectis Radio who have been awarded £3,080.

The awards are the first to be announced this year by the foundation which is made up of the partners behind Island Roads: Ringway Island Roads, Island Roads Services, Meridiam and Vinci Concessions.

Grants of between £3,000 and £16,000Each year the foundation gives grants of between £3,000 and £16,000 to charities and good causes working on the Island to tackle social exclusion. Since 2014 around £710,000 has been awarded to such projects.

Care In The Garden, a Wootton-based community interest company providing meaningful work opportunities for adults with additional needs will use their grant to buy equipment, including a kiln, so they can expand their operation to manufacture ceramic and concrete products.