Steve Arnold, right, from Westridge Garage, hands over the keys of the new GreenMobile to Ray Harrington-Vail.
REMOTE communities will receive a greater service from the IW’s Footprint Trust thanks to a new vehicle dubbed the GreenMobile.
It is all thanks to funding from the Defra European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, administered by Natural Enterprise and the Big Lottery’s Awards for All grant. The new Ford Connect van came from Westridge Garage.
Nicknamed the GreenMobile, the new vehicle will assist communities in setting up groups to care for local open spaces and help improve wildlife habitats and access.
The vehicle will also help the charity deliver its other projects, particularly its attendance at large Island events such as the Chale Show.
Another aspect of the trust’s work is fighting fuel poverty through their new Energetic project. The van will be used to visit events and schools to inform people of the help they can offer in reducing fuel bills.
The Awards for All funding has enabled the trust to purchase new professional display boards and leaflets to promote the help it can offer Islanders.
Speaking for Westridge Garage, sales executive Steve Arnold said: "We are very pleased to be given the opportunity to supply a new Ford Transit Connect van to The Footprint Trust.
"The vehicle is powered by the latest diesel engine which meets the more stringent stage V emissions legislation, adding to the Green aspect of the GreenMobile."
Ray Harrington-Vail, the trust’s general manager, added: "GreenMobile is much more than just a van. Through this resource we aim to increase rural people’s opportunities to take part in voluntary endeavour.
"There is much talk about the Big Society, but for this vision to be realised people need resources, training and support.
"The trust wishes to improve quality of life by providing a gateway so that interested people can get together and form 'Friends of’ type groups.
"We have a tool store, which insured and trained groups can borrow from. The GreenMobile will be able to be borrowed by local groups to transport tools and equipment."
"We wish to improve people’s quality of life through providing more opportunities and to care for more sites."
Colin Withers, speaking for the board of the trust, added: "We are delighted to have received this funding which will enable us to assist rural communities promote our Energetic project and Adopt-A-Garden scheme.
"We were very pleased with the helpful service provided by Westridge Ford, who supplied us with the vehicle and will be looking after it in the years to come.
"The success of the IW Green Gym group, Cemetery and Pond Wardens meant we needed a new reliable vehicle that was suitable for the increasing volume of work now undertaken."