Green Time Food and Mood Winter 2025
The Equals IW Friends and Family Group joined Mark and Aireen for the final Green Time session of the year on Sunday 23 November 2025. The session ended with a Bring and Share Sunday Roast Lunch and a selection of homemade puddings from around the world.
Everyone worked together to prepare the ingredients. While the food was cooking Mark guided the group through the Eat Well Plate. The Eat Well Plate or Guide divides everyday foods into five main groups showing roughly how much of your overall diet should come from each. Mark explained the importance of healthy eating in a simple and practical way. Sharing a meal helped each friend enjoy the psychological, social and biological benefits of eating together.
Aireen hosted the session at Torwood which is a beautiful grand house with peaceful gardens in the village of Bonchurch. This friendly and informal event was also part of the Green Time Food and Mood Community Programme for 2025–2026 funded by the Isle of Wight Council Adult Community Learning Grant Programme.
We took photos
Green Time a fun, informal way using the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.
Green Time Autumn Walk at America Wood 2025
On Sunday 28th September 2025 Equals IW Friends and Family Group members came together to take part in the Autumn Green Time Walk. Participants took part in range of fun informal learning activities while walking and exploring the local countryside and wildlife.
The walk started by joining Mark at Shanklin Railway Station for an autumn Sunday walk along the old railway footpath and woodland trails and an autumn scavenger hunt. They also took part in a team learning activity focused on Why it is important to reconnect to nature?
The group sat on fallen trees in an opening in the centre of the woodland learning about the health benefits of walking. They discussed the boost to wellbeing of the great outdoors for our emotional welling and mental health.
The route was a three mile circular flat and easy walk. It offered a mix of woodland trails, quiet country bridleways and the old railway footpath which passes beneath two original brick bridges. Everyone really enjoyed exploring America Wood as they meandered through the paths and crossed a stream.
Unusually for the Isle of Wight most of the wood today is high oak forest with downy birch. The woodland floor supports a great deal of holly but little else in the way of ground cover. A badger set has been reported and red squirrels are occasionally seen.
The walk followed the valley to Ninham and Ninham Farm where the group joined the bridleway path through Lower Hyde Holiday Park back to Shanklin Railway Station.
On average each person walked three miles or 4.82km and burnt 281 Kcal while walking 6,680 Steps.
The walk was part of the partnership programme between MCEnhancement with Equals IW and the Isle of Wight Council Adult and Community Learning Team.
We took many photos
Green Time a fun, informal way using the great outdoors to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health.
Beach of Dreams at Ryde Carnival Report
First Prize at Ryde Illuminated Carnival 2025
Asian Global UK proudly joined Equals IW for the 2025 Beach of Dreams project. Together we took part in Ryde Illuminated Carnival on Saturday 30 August 2025. The project was part of a UK-wide coastal arts festival to celebrate the history, cultures and future of our coastlines in a time of climate change. Our costumes showed the colours of the sand and sea featuring the shoreline, sea life and the wildlife found around UK beaches.
The team of 45 people came from across the UK. They travelled from Portsmouth, Yorkshire, and the Isle of Wight to join the parade. Creative Hearts United organised a group of 14 dancers from Leeds and Harrogate. This was their second year performing at Ryde Illuminated Carnival.
The Yorkshire Filipino Group (YFG) troupe shared the Pintados tradition with the crowds. They wore colourful costumes and performed lively dances. “Pintados” means “painted ones,” a term given by Spanish colonisers to tattooed warriors from the Visayas region in the Philippines. The Pintados Festival keeps this tradition alive with body paint, music, and dance that honour bravery and culture.
The YFG Cultural Dance Troupe regularly performs at major cultural events. These include the Bradford Barrio Fiesta, London Barrio Fiesta, Cheshire East Barrio Fiesta, and Ryde Illuminated Carnival. Creative Hearts United runs yearly workshops for the YFG troupe. Rehearsals begin in spring and combine traditional and modern dance styles. This mix creates exciting performances that connect old and new. Creative Hearts United proudly support YFG and Ms Joeace Kristine Ang-Siao (Ms Yorkshire).
Ten Asian Global UK Pageant Queens joined the parade this year. They included Ms Isle of Wight, Ms Hampshire, Ms North London, Ms Chelsea, Ms Westminster, Ms Yorkshire, Ms York, Ms Nottingham, Ms Berkshire, and Ms Worcester. All wore stunning Beach of Dreams costumes that delighted the crowds.
Aireen Gauntlett, Asian Global founder and project joint lead shared “I am delighted to have brought together people from all around the UK who are connected and supporters of Asian Global UK, to take part in the carnival with some coming to the island for the first time. Everyone has had an amazing positive experience, enjoying the carnival spirit. The crowds cheering us and clapping us was wonderful. Winning a 1st prize was and is unbelievable. My heart is full of happiness and I am so proud of our achievements.”
Mark Cox project joint lead said The weather was wet and soggy. Blustery winds at times tested us but we bravely faced it and the reward was priceless winning 1st prize for best group entry of five or more group members.”
We have photos
Ryde Carnival is the oldest carnival in the UK. It began in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Its Illuminated Procession is the final carnival of the summer. This spectacular event fills the streets with light, music, floats, and costumes. Thousands of people watch and cheer from along the route. Even with the rain, the 2025 carnival was a bright and joyful celebration.
Equals IW Groups
As part of the aim to support equality and diversity on the Isle of Wight, Equals IW offers a Ladies group for women including women of ethnic backgrounds.
For a real cultural diversity experience come and join our Ladies Group. The group provides a welcoming place to women of both minority and majority ethnic background. Come and make new friends, get advice and find support. You can take part in fun activities and maybe participate in some training.
Equals IW also offers a Friends and Family Group which is open to adults of all ages, children accompanied by parents or responsible adult, family members and friends. Some this groups activities will be open also to the general public..
The groups have taken part in
- Carnivals and arts parade
- The Kite Festival
- Cultural and Diversity Events
- Art and Craft fun Activities
- Information Technology Training
- Food Hygiene Training
- Cooking Courses at the Isle of Wight College
- Culture Kitchen
- Back to Work Training
- Private Swimming Sessions
Please contact us to find out more.
Updated February 2023