Three Isle of Wight charities have a week to double donations, as part of this year's nationwide Big Give Christmas Challenge, but only if they reach their target before the deadline.

We are being asked to support them before December 5 and it could mean extra cash.

Scroll down to read more about their plans...

Newport-based creative charity, Independent Arts is asking supporters to consider backing its Ageing Artfully campaign.

It wants to raise £9,000 this week.

Embracing Age IOW, which operates across the Island, has more than 50 volunteers and supports Islanders through befriending, writing and delivering cards, running projects for care home residents and helping install Alexa devices for older people.

The charity is hoping to raise £15,000 over the week - some of which will come from match funding.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Embracing Age teamThe Embracing Age team (Image: Embracing Age IOW)

East Cowes's MAD-Aid could receive £15,000 under the match-funding appeal but it must receive £7,500 in online donations in a week.

It is supporting the neonatal unit at the Mother and Child Institute, in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau, in the main children’s hospital, which has had no investment since 1986. There is outdated equipment, dangerous electrical wiring and a broken ventilation system.

Around 700 babies are born there per year and 2,000 children visit for rehabilitation but there are no government funds, so MAD-Aid has stepped in.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Kate Couch, MAD-Aid’s grant manager, said: “The Big Give Christmas Challenge is an exciting
opportunity for us to maximise the amount of money we raise.

““It was a tough competitive process to be chosen to take part in this year’s Big Give Christmas
Challenge, but it is a win-win situation for MAD-Aid, because it means one donation has twice the impact – a £25 donation from a member of the public becomes £50 for the neonatal unit.

“We hope everyone will give what they can to help us reach our target and enable us to save or
improve the lives of babies who have been born with congenital problems, birth defects and
disabilities, in what is one of the poorest countries in Europe.”