Each month we round up five of the most exciting opportunities currently available for young people living on the Isle of Wight, whether that’s from Brave Island or from other organisations we think you should get involved with! Check out our top picks for November, below.
Grants to Small Business Start-ups
SWEF offers grants up to £2,000 for adults aged 18-30 who have a new business (trading less than 2 years).
They want to hear from you if you are a young business owner aged 18-30 who faces barriers to investing in and growing your business. This is not a loan scheme, and you do not need to pay the grant back. They will prioritise funding for young people who face barriers to investing in their business. There are two different grants available depending on the size of your business.
Find out more by clicking here, applications close 30th November.
Rob Da Bank’s Music Club Returns!
DJ and Co-founder of Bestival, Rob Da Bank has teamed up with the Isle of Wight Youth Trust to bring back Rob Da Bank’s Music Club. This is a place where 11-19 year olds can go to get musical instrument tuition, take part in workshops from industry professionals, or just jam with likeminded young musicians.
The first session will be at Strings in Newport on Tuesday 25th November, from 4.30pm – 6.30pm, and will feature a workshop with special guest Nick Chicane – on how to make electronic music.
Find out more on the Youth Trust facebook page, or just click here to book your free place.
Music Industry Event Ticket Discount
Ditto X: Meet the Music Industry returns to The O2 Arena in London on Thursday 20th November 2025 for a day of panels, interviews, workshops, networking and feedback sessions with experts from across the music business. They’ve given Brave Island an exclusive 50% discount on tickets!
Back for their fifth year, they’ve lined up guests from BBC Radio, Sky, ITV Studios, Vevo, YouTube and more, plus plenty of big announcements still to come.
Grab your half price tickets here.
Free Photography Workshops
Want to develop your photography skills? Brave Island have teamed up with In Focus Education & Development to bring their creative photography workshops to the Isle of Wight! These are FREE sessions where you can gain skills and experience using professional cameras and equipment!
These open sessions are a space for young people aged 16 – 25yrs to learn new skills, connect with others, and explore your creativity. All equipment and materials are provided.
The next session is taking place at Ventnor Exchange on Thursday 13th November, 5:00pm-6:30pm. Book your free space here.
Ventnor Fringe Registrations Open!
Ventnor Fringe is the Island’s largest arts festival, taking place from 17th – 26th July 2026. The festival embraces every art form and supports both emerging and established performers to bring new work to live audiences.
The festival takes place over 10 days across Ventnor, in a variety of pop up venues in tents and buildings. It’s a great place to bring a show or test out new work, whether that’s comedy, theatre, poetry, or music.
Find out more here.
