Pioneering project to support Isle of Wight people during the cost-of-living crisis wins funding from Wightlink

An Isle of Wight primary school has teamed up with Wightlink to provide a new facility to help people through the cost-of-living crisis.

Using a £1,000 grant from the ferry company’s Green Fund for Schools, Dover Park Primary in Ryde has set up a Donate and Take exchange. The idea is that parents can drop off unwanted or outgrown items of clothing such as school uniform and sports gear, which, after washing, can then be discreetly collected by families who may be able to make use of it.

As the project also encourages re-use, it qualified for support from Wightlink’s Green Fund for Schools initiative. This has distributed around £15,000 to environmentally friendly primary school projects across the Island this year.

It is thought the Donate and Take station is one of the first of its kind on the Isle of Wight.

Dover Park headteacher Anita Wilcox says: “There is no doubt that because of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis, some of our families are currently finding it a struggle. This is a really simple way of offering those in need a little bit of discreet help during difficult times.”

Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield says: “We were really impressed how this Dover Park scheme encourages materials to be re-used in a way that also provides help for people in the community who may be struggling during these difficult times. This is an imaginative and compassionate project that we were happy to support.”

Picture caption: Dover Park headteacher Anita Wilcox and Louise Lea from Wightlink with eight-year-old twins Imogen and Evelyn Smith 

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