CHARITIES AND SUPPORT
The Garlic Festival is really proud to have supported and worked with some amazing charities over the years – we are constantly inspired by the incredible work you’re all doing to make our community a better place. See them around the Garlic Festival, all trying to raise much needed funds in all different kinds of ways!
You’ll find the wonderful Wave Project Isle of Wight cooking and selling sweetcorn. We are proud to support this fantastic project, with every penny going directly to the Island Project. Last year they raised a whopping £6200! That’s a lot of buttery sweetcorn and a lot of families helped.
Then there’s the NET Patient Foundation, you can support them by buying a cuppa and cake! Wight Crystal and The Way Forward Programme by grabbing a bottle of water.
THE WAVE PROJECT
The project on the Isle of Wight began with a pilot scheme in 2015. The success of the trial led to them securing NHS funding to expand the project to employ a coordinator. Since then, the project has grown to run our fully funded surf-therapy courses for 60 new Island children each year, and now has a busy and active surf-club.
“‘At The Wave Project, we take children on Surf Therapy courses to improve their well-being and self-confidence and to develop skills such as resilience and perseverance - tools which help them to cope better with their daily struggles. Last year at the Garlic Festival, we raised a whopping £6200! This money went directly to delivering our surf therapy courses to 60 Island children and to run our surf club for young people who have completed a course with us. We also work with lots of volunteers from the community without whom we could not exist. From cooking corn to playing in the waves, volunteering with us is fun and rewarding! Have a chat to our team at this year’s Garlic Festival where you can find out more and sign up to volunteer too.’
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THE WAY FORWARD PROGRAMME
The Way Forward Programme works with adults and young people from 12 years of age to retirement who have a learning or physical disability, people on the autistic spectrum and people suffering from mental health conditions. The Way Forward Programme provides services 7 days a week and every evening and help through gardening skills, better communication and teamwork to realise their potential and contribute to their community.
“Osel Enterprises was formed in 1988 to provide training and employment for people with disabilities living on the Island. Working closely with social services, families and carers, providers of services and other organisations to meet the needs of the island. Osel consists of four enterprises, Wight Crystal, The Way Forward Programme, Working Towards Wellbeing and Living Well.
When you purchase water from Wight Crystal you are supporting The Way Forward Programme and everyone who uses this service. All proceeds are reinvested back into the company to provide opportunities requested by the users, this ensures that The Way Forward Programme continues to be able to deliver a rewarding user lead service for everyone involved. ”