Spirit of the Bay Award

We’re delighted that young people from Sandown and Lake Youth Forum who took part in Artswork Supporting Young Minds project have been celebrated at the Community Action Isle of Wight inaugural Bay Youth Project Awards and that one of them, 17-year-old Maria, was the recipient of the Spirit of the Bay Award. 

As part of Artswork Supporting Young Minds, the Forum, a diverse group of young people aged 12 – 18, issued a £5,000 brief for a creative facilitator that said: ​“We would like an artist to help us: unite our community; reduce stereotypes and stigma; represent young people’s views on what’s good and bad about The Bay; highlight the negatives as a call to action; make Sandown more exciting; convey a message that stimulates thinking and makes people happier.” 

After reviewing submissions and interviewing shortlisted artists at a ​‘Dragon’s Den’ style event, they selected filmmaker Bruce Webb who enabled them to produce a thought-provoking film about their town ​‘Do Something Different.’ The film was showcased to local policy makers including politicians, the police and educators. This led to it being included in the application for a grant and as a result £3.1 million in UK government funding has been awarded to redevelop a historic building as a youth hub with a programme that will serve over 200 young people per week, with activities such as sports and study sessions and access to a sound studio for music practice being made available. 

You can watch the Sandown and Lake Youth Forum’s film ​‘Do Something Different’ here. 

And hear the young people talking about their experience at the Community Action Isle of Wight inaugural Bay Youth Project Awards celebration event here – about 25 minutes in.