A Staffordshire charity that provides adventure activity days and residential experiences to disadvantaged children has been given a £1,000 boost by our West Midlands region.

The Kenelm Youth Trust is committed to providing life changing opportunities for young people, helping everyone to achieve personal, social and spiritual growth. The charity has been handed the grant from our West Midlands region as part of the our re-launched Building Futures campaign, which runs until August and will deliver more £1m to good causes this year.

Sandra Satchell, chief executive officer for Kenelm Youth Trust, said: “We’re thrilled to accept this generous donation from Persimmon Homes. We’re going to use the £1,000 to purchase new activity equipment, including harnesses and helmets, that are used for activities such as climbing, abseiling and our crate stack challenge. These types of activities help to improve confidence, encourages team building, develops understanding and trust, as well as celebrating success. We feel that it’s very important for children and young people to step out of their comfort zone and experience things that are both physically and mentally challenging.”

The charity offers programmes at Alton Castle where participants are brought from inner city areas so they can experience a wide range of stimulating, informal educational activities in a rural setting. Sandra added: “Many of the children and young people we work with are not taken out of their immediate home area which means they only ever experience built up, crowded and often polluted surroundings. Alton Castle provides a once in a lifetime experience so to be able to further improve our facilities is a great feeling.”

Building Futures aims to support community groups working with under-18s across three categories – education & arts, health, and sport. A total of 128 grants of £1,000 will be awarded across our 32 regional businesses to improve local facilities and the delivery of vital community projects. Three initiatives will go on to win £100,000 each through a national online public vote. The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in November.

In each sector – education & arts, health, and sport – as well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.

Stephen Cleveley, managing director oat West Midlands, said: “Kenelm Youth Trust is a thoroughly deserving winner of our Building Futures donation this month. A lot of charities are facing big financial challenges in the aftermath of Covid-19 so to be able to help them continue their vital work gives me great pleasure. This scheme is all about supporting people aged under 18 in our local communities, so we’d like to encourage more youth projects to get involved by visiting the website.