Anita Jacobs and Tony Keasling at the Vectis Road allotments beekeeping project, in East Cowes, which has been awarded more than £1,600 by the IWCF.
ISLAND community projects including festivals, skate parks and beekeeping have benefited from more than £30,000 in grant funding.
The Isle of Wight Community Fund (IWCF) has awarded Grassroots grants to 13 projects, including a £3,800 grant to help restore Northwood Cemetery. The cash will be used by the Friends of Northwood Cemetery to supply electricity to the Dead House, and to install a computer to help people research their family history.
Friends’ fundraiser John Matthews said: "This project is the first step in a much wider plan to restore the whole cemetery and the two chapels. It will also enable us to offer better support to visitors searching for family graves and encourage other groups, such as schools, to come to the cemetery."
The Isle of Wight Storytelling Festival, due to be held at Brading Roman Villa, over the May bank holiday weekend, has received £3,000, and more than £1,600 has been awarded to a beekeeping project based at Vectis Road Allotments, in East Cowes.
"Since setting up the bee project last year we have had a lot of interest from people who want to come and see the bees and learn more about them. Several children have shown an interest and we want to encourage the next generation to learn, too," said allotments' treasurer Dorothy Haynes.
Other groups to receive grants include the Ryde Skate Park Users’ Group, Shanklin Town Brass Band, the Isle of Wight Asthma Swim Group and the Cowes Short Mat Bowling Club.
Urging other community groups to apply for grants, the IWCF said there was still funding available.
• For further details, visit www.hantscf.org.uk/iwcf
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk