ISEP embodies the theme of the ‘Art of the Possible’. We believe that there are no limits to what young people can achieve, no matter what their personal initial circumstances may be.
ISEP’s activities target young people at an important transitional stage of their lives when they are poised to move to adulthood and embark upon life’s journey. We hope to inspire students and give them the power and the ability to go anywhere and do anything, confident that their dreams are within reach when they seize opportunities and work towards goals.
ISEP fosters lasting bonds between the young people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Isle of Man, strengthening links between both countries and their people.
Learn more about our team, our partners and the ISEP scholarship.
The Isle of Man, situated in the Irish Sea, is an island nation with a rich history and a resilient economy. It is a British Crown Dependency, administering its affairs by its own constitution under King Charles III as Lord of Mann. ISEP’s co-patron, Lt Governor Sir John Lorimer, is the King’s representative in the Isle of Man.
Despite its relatively small size, the Isle of Man boasts an impressive constitutional legacy. Tynwald, the island’s parliament, is the oldest continuous parliament in the world, and the island was the first jurisdiction in the world to give the right to vote to women in 1881, and to young people aged 16 and 17 in 2006. Previously reliant on agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, the Isle of Man has transitioned into an international financial centre and a hub for hi-tech industries. The Island’s commitment to strong financial regulation and transparency is reflected in its hosting of the annual Small Countries Financial Management Programme, an initiative that supports small economies like SVG.
SVG is a unique and vibrant island country located in the Eastern Caribbean. This cluster of 32 islands and cays boasts of a rich volcanic landscape with the main island of St. Vincent and a chain of smaller islands extending south towards Grenada.
St Vincent, the largest island, is characterized by its active volcano, La Soufrière, which last erupted in 2021, and an array of dense forests. As one of the poorest small nations in the Caribbean, SVG faces numerous challenges, exacerbated by the devastating eruption of La Soufrière and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite these challenges, SVG, under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, prioritizes education and aims to expand university opportunities for Vincentians beyond the Caribbean. The Small Countries Financial Management Centre (SCFMC) supports this ambition by providing financial regulatory capacity-building programmes.
The strong relationship between SVG and the Isle of Man, initiated through the SCFMC and facilitated by Sharda Bollers, a former Chevening Scholar and a leading Vincentian attorney, and Lavinia Gunn, a prominent and well-respected figure in SVG, paved the way for the establishment of ISEP.
The immediate catalyst for ISEP’s establishment was the devastating eruption of La Soufrière in SVG. This natural disaster, coupled with the socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, further compounded the challenges faced by this small island nation.
ISEP is a small charity run by volunteers, and currently focuses on SVG and IOM due to their pre-established relationship, facilitated by individuals like Sharda Bollers and Lavinia Gunn. However, ISEP may serve as a model for similar future programmes in other small island states where the necessary funding and local organisational support can be found.
SVG’s geographical location and the similarity of its school year structure to the Isle of Man and the UK make it an ideal partner for ISEP. Additionally, SVG’s two-year term on the United Nations Security Council, where it was the smallest country ever to hold a seat, allowed it to establish relationships that could ultimately be valuable to other small countries including the Isle of Man.
ISEP was founded in 2022 by Tim Cullen in the Isle of Man and Sharda Bollers in SVG in response to the disruption of formal education in St Vincent and The Grenadines in the aftermath of the eruption of La Soufrière volcano. The charity is dedicated to supporting the educational growth and development of young people in St Vincent and The Grenadines through partnerships with educational and other entities.
ISEP embodies the theme of the 'Art of the Possible' which holds that possibilities are endless for young people, no matter their personal initial circumstances.
ISEP’s programmes assert that young people have the power and the ability to go anywhere and do anything. The programme also works to foster lasting bonds between the young people of St Vincent and The Grenadines and the Isle of Man and to strengthen links between both countries and their people.
ISEP has provided funding for boarding scholarships for selected Vincentian students for their two final years of school at King William’s College, in the Isle of Man, leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma qualification.
Kayla Bobb, the first ISEP scholar, who is from a village that was impacted by the volcano, entered King William’s in September 2023. Kayla completed her IB in 2025 and plans to study law at a UK university starting in 2026. The charity’s second scholarship was awarded in 2024 to Luca Roberts and Luca will complete his IB in 2026.
In place of the award of a new Scholarship in 2026, ISEP is planning to repeat the study tour first held in 2022. Subject to available funding, consideration will be given to recommencing scholarship awards in 2027. Successful students will have attained top marks against the scoring criteria and will have performed well in an interview. The scholarship is based on academic merit, exemplary conduct and aptitude for success, with economic need also taken into consideration.
The scholarship covers teaching, boarding, including return flights from the UK to the Isle of Man courtesy of Loganair (inclusive of return flights for the Christmas holiday), home stay in the Isle of Man during half-term breaks and the Easter holiday, pocket money, a clothing grant and all other essentials.
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