Red Funnel has announced that Isle of Wight Independent Lifeboats, a collaboration of Freshwater Independent Lifeboat, Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat and Ryde Inshore Rescue, has been elected as its Charity of the Year (COTY), 2020. This announcement follows the results of a vote by Red Funnel staff and customers.
The lifeboat groups joined forces to submit a joint application to Red Funnel’s COTY programme and will share the funds raised. Funding will support the groups’ operations which are united in a common goal of saving lives at sea and along the coastline. All three groups, which work in conjunction with other emergency services such as Her Majesty’s Coastguard, RNLI, Ambulance, Police and IW Search & Rescue, as well as suicide prevention groups, are entirely operated by volunteers and are privately funded through donations.
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Red Funnel Ferries, by offering special fares for those travelling from the mainland, is supporting an array of activities this February half term, making the Isle of Wight the place to be with its wide range of fun for the whole family.
As well as visitors those living on the Island might like to try the following events:
Celebrate Chinese New Year and usher in the ‘Year of the Rat’ at Robin Hill’s award-winning annual ‘Spirit of the Orient’ event located just outside Newport. This fusion of sound, colour, illuminations and oriental flavours is ready to be explored every evening (18:00 – 22:00) from 14 – 22 February. A host of shows and activities are on offer, including a 12-metre long dragon procession, birds of prey displays, and Chinese lantern making workshops. Visitors from the mainland attending the event can also enjoy 20% off Red Funnel vehicle ferry travel thanks to a special offer.
A short distance away from Robin Hill there is Monkey Haven which was selected a few years ago for a Girlguiding SW England Region Road Show. This multiple award-winning sanctuary is home to monkeys, apes, reptiles, meerkats and more. From informative keeper talks to decorating Valentine’s cards for rescued animals, plenty of activities will be on offer for all ages. Again, those visitors booking their ticket through Red Funnel, can save up to 25% off gate prices, and enjoy 15% off ferry travel discount.
For anyone in the market for a faster pace, a trip to Wight Karting, located near Ryde, is not to be missed. Suitable for ages 8+, everyone can show off their skills and become a race car driver for the day, challenging family and friends to a day of racing.
If historical sites are of interest, visitors can step back in time at Carisbrooke Castle and discover a special feature collection of Anglo-Saxon treasures. After learning what life looked like on the Island centuries ago, guests can spend hours exploring the rest of this incredible English Heritage Site.