Young people aged between 18 and 29 will have the opportunity to take part in a three-day employability workshop delivered through charity Sport 4 Life to gain vital skills to progress into employment, education or training.
The £5,000 donation from UKSE will enable Sport 4 Life to deliver the workshop for 10 young people, equipping them with key employability and life skills as well as the opportunity to take part in mock interviews and receive mentoring.
Sport 4 Life works with disadvantaged young people to reach their full potential by providing the skills, qualifications and support needed to find work and shape successful futures.
The charity provides a holistic programme of sport, mentoring, qualifications and employability support to improve their mental health & wellbeing, life skills and route to end unemployment.
The employability workshops not only provide participants with a toolkit to equip them for the world of work but also build personal skills such as confidence, resilience and wellbeing. A recent survey of young people who attended the workshops showed that 43% significantly improved their key life skills.
In 2025, Sport 4 Life supported 3,875 young people, with 301 gaining employment as a direct result of its NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) programmes.
Providing strategic loan and equity packages of up to £1m to generate growth, create local job opportunities and bolster the economy, UKSE’s local team based in Cannock make community donations on the back of their work supporting SMEs across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, Staffordshire and Telford.
UKSE actively supports local charities and organisations that contribute to the communities they serve. Sport 4 Life’s mission to reduce youth unemployment aligns with UKSE’s dedication to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically those relating to quality education and good health and wellbeing.
UKSE regional executive Mike Lowe said: "At UKSE, we're committed to investing not just in businesses, but in the communities that surround them. Sport 4 Life is doing vital work helping young people in Birmingham build the confidence and skills they need to move into employment, education or training. We're proud to support a charity that shares our belief that giving young people the right tools can transform their futures.”
Sport 4 Life senior business development manager Munira Khalifa added: "The donation from UKSE will make a real difference to our young people. The employability workshop gives participants much more than employability tips, it's about building confidence, resilience and the life skills that employers are looking for. We're incredibly grateful to UKSE for recognising the importance of that work and helping us reach even more young people across the West Midlands."
UKSE supports the local economy by making equity investments, ensuring management stays in control of the business and offers a flexible exit policy. Unsecured loans are also available, often without the need for personal guarantees.
UKSE provides investment in a range of scenarios including business acquisitions, management buyouts, company expansions or the purchase of new equipment. Since it was established in 1975, UKSE has invested over £115m, supporting 8,000 businesses, stimulating the creation of an estimated 83,000 new jobs.
