Isle of Wight Lottery to Launch Scratchcards

The Isle of Wight Lottery will launch its first scratchcards this April.

All monies raised from the £1 cards will be used to support the Island's economy. As with the main island lottery the project will be managed by the Isle of Wight Chamber.

Scratchcards will be stocked all across the Isle of Wight, including every Spar store and additional locations to be announced.

Petition to Save IOW Ice Rink

The ice rink in Ryde is due to close on March 25th unless new management can be found after Planet Ice announced its withdrawal.

Planet Ice has lost money on the rink for the last seven years and feels it is no longer financially viable. Users are hoping for another operator to come in with the funds and means to manage the rink.

The Ryde Ice Rink and Arena provides several jobs as well as playing host to ice hockey players, figure skating coaches and social users. It is an integral feature of the beachfront scene in Ryde and will be a sad loss to the town and to the Island.

Campaigners have set up a Facebook group called Save Our Isle of Wight Ice Rink and a petition has been launched at Change.org which all readers are invited to sign.

Please take a moment to register your support for the campaign.

Enter the Den to Help Isle of Wight YMCA

By Thomas Seal

The YMCA is inviting young budding entrepreneurs to apply for its new Isle of Wight's version of BBC Dragons’ Den before February 15.

Isle of Wight YMCA Futures is offering £1,000 seed money to groups of four or more who have a good idea for a social enterprise.

Group members must all be aged between 11 and 19 and their business idea must benefit an Island charity.

Quizzing the teams will be 'dragons’ including Isle of Wight County Press editor Alan Marriott, Betapak general manager Jon Carter, tourism consultant Simon Dabell, Island businessman David Edwards and area director for the YMCA Emma Corina.

Successful teams will each be appointed one of the dragons as a business mentor, who will help them put their ideas into practice.

SIX MONTHS

They will then have six months to raise money for their chosen charity, as well as trying to pay back the £1,000 seed cash — which is being provided by the Isle of Wight Council.

After the application deadline at midnight, February 14, the competition will launch on February 19 and the first Dragons’ Den event will happen a week later, on February 26.

Teams whose first pitches are unsuccessful will have two more chances to pitch later in the year.

Find suggestions for fundraising ideas and further information on the YMCA Futures website: http://tinyurl.com/IWCP-YMCA-FG.

Reproduced with acknowledgements to the Isle of Wight County Press.