enfinium awards over £3,800 to projects supporting more than 200 young people in the West Midlands

Leading UK energy-from-waste operator enfinium has awarded more than £3,800 to four community projects supporting more than 200 children and young people aged four to 18 across the West Midlands. The funding will support sport, mentoring, outdoor learning and early years education.

Once fully operational, Kelvin will divert up to 395,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste from emissions-intensive landfill every year and generate up to 44MW of homegrown energy, enough to power over 95,000 UK homes. | enfinium

placeholder image — Once fully operational, Kelvin will divert up to 395,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste from emissions-intensive landfill every year and generate up to 44MW of homegrown energy, enough to power over 95,000 UK homes. | enfinium

It will help deliver boxing and mentoring sessions, support volunteer basketball coaches, develop a school garden and provide an outdoor shelter for early years pupils.

The projects are all based near enfinium’s Kelvin facility in Sandwell.

Sandwell Asian Development Association will use its grant for Beyond the Ring, a six-month boxing and mentoring programme for 40 people aged 12 to 16.

West Brom Basketball Club will buy equipment for the volunteer leaders who run its weekly sessions.

Lit Four Dwellings Primary in Birmingham will install rainwater harvesting and plant pollinator-friendly plants in its Second World War-themed Dig for Victory Garden.

The grants were awarded through enfinium’s Community Benefit Funding programme, which supports organisations near its facilities in the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Kent and North Wales. In 2025, the programme allocated more than £275,000 to local projects across the UK, supporting environmental improvements, health and wellbeing, and stronger communities.

Lee Rhodes, plant manager at enfinium, said: “We want the communities closest to Kelvin to share in its benefits. These projects reflect what local young people need, from opportunities to play sport and access mentoring to places to learn outdoors. We are proud to support the people making that possible.”

Liam Sheridan, director at West Brom Basketball Club, said: “Our weekly sessions give young people the chance to play basketball, build confidence and be part of a team. enfinium’s support will help us equip the volunteers who make those sessions possible and give more young people the opportunity to take part.”

The grants form part of enfinium’s wider investment in Sandwell and the surrounding area.

Construction of Kelvin represents an investment of more than £500 million in the West Midlands and has created more than 1,600 jobs.

Once operational, Kelvin will process up to 395,000 tonnes of unrecyclable waste each year and generate up to 44 MW of electricity – enough to power more than 95,000 UK homes.

enfinium’s Community Benefit Funding programme welcomes applications from registered charities, schools, places of learning, not-for-profit companies, community organisations and groups. Projects must deliver environmental benefits, improve health, safety or wellbeing, or benefit the wider community.

For eligibility criteria and application forms, visit: https://enfinium.co.uk/community-fund/