Investment specialist funds skills programme for disadvantaged West Midlands youngsters

A West Midlands charity supporting disadvantaged young people into employment, education and training has received a £5,000 donation from business investment specialist UKSE.

Sport 4 Life will use the funding to deliver a three-day workshop for 10 young people, aged 18 to 29, on key employability and life skills, mock interview practice and mentoring opportunities.

The Birmingham-based charity provides a programme of sport, mentoring, qualifications and employability support to improve participants’ mental health and wellbeing and routes out of unemployment. 

In 2025, it supported 3,875 young people, with 301 gaining employment directly through its NEET programmes. A recent survey found 43% of workshop attendees significantly improved their key life skills.

Shared values

UKSE, whose local team is based in Cannock, provides strategic loan and equity packages of up to £1m to SMEs across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, Staffordshire and Telford. 

The organisation said Sport 4 Life’s mission aligns with its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals around quality education and good health and wellbeing.

UKSE regional executive Mike Lowe said: “We’re committed to investing not just in businesses, but in the communities that surround them.”

Sport 4 Life senior business development manager Munira Khalifa added: “The donation from UKSE will make a real difference to our young people.”