enfinium, a leading UK energy from waste operator, today announces that it has awarded £13,200 to Picker Pals, an environmental education programme for six- to nine-year-olds. Picker Pals aims to inspire lasting behavioural change by fostering environmental stewardship through litter picking and hands-on learning. To date, Picker Pals has made possible over 330,000 litter picking adventures across communities in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal and France.
The grant was made by enfinium’s Community Funding programme at its Kemsley facility in Kent and Parc Adfer facility in North Wales. enfinium’s Community Funding will enable twenty schools, ten in Kent and ten in Flintshire, to participate in the Picker Pals programme.
The Picker Pals year-long programme involves providing classrooms with a Picker Pack, made up of essential litter picking equipment. Each week a different child brings home the Picker Pack and is encouraged to share their litter picking experience with their classmates. Beyond creating a lasting connection with the environment and local community, the programme helps children build confidence and self-reliance as they learn how they can make a difference through litter picking. The programme also includes year-round classroom activities, including quizzes, creative projects, and wider reading.
Philip Curds, Head of ESG and Sustainability at enfinium, said: “Picker Pals’ mission to nurture lasting environmental stewardship in young people is one that we are delighted to support. It is critical that we all play our role responsibly managing the waste we produce as part of a circular economy.’’
Patrick Jackson, Founder of Picker Pals, said: “Supporting the next generation in protecting the environment and giving them the confidence to do so is of paramount importance. With thanks to enfinium’s funding, twenty additional schools across England and Wales will now be equipped with a programme that helps to achieve this.”
enfinium Kemsley’s Community Fund has been made available to community groups and organisations in Kent (within a 10-mile radius of our Kemsley energy from waste facility). Meanwhile, enfinium Parc Adfer’s Community Fund has been made available to community groups and organisations in North Wales (radius inclusive of all addresses under the CH5, CH6, CH7, and CH8 postcodes within Wales).
Applications to enfinium’s Community Funding programme are accepted from projects or organisations that will directly benefit the communities we serve. Organisations who are based outside of this area are also eligible to apply for grants, if they can prove how the award of funding will have a beneficial impact on these communities. Applications are welcomed from registered charities, schools, places of learning, not-for-profit companies, community organisations and groups – including those supported by public funding.
All applications must demonstrate that the project or event in question will either deliver environmental benefits (such as the promotion of clean energy, waste reduction and / or recycling improvements), improve standards of health, safety and wellbeing or enhance the wider community. This could mean promoting skills and educational development, environmental improvements or activity that helps boost community cohesion.
Application criteria and application forms for Kemsley can be downloaded from the project website: https://enfinium.co.uk/facilities/kemsley/. For more information please call 0800 422 0036 or email kemsley@enfinium.co.uk.
Application criteria and application forms for Parc Adfer can be downloaded from the project website: https://enfinium.co.uk/facilities/parc-adfer/. For more information please call 0800 422 0036 or email parcadfer@enfinium.co.uk.
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About enfinium
enfinium is a leading UK energy from waste operator with five operational sites in the UK, in West Yorkshire, Kent and Flintshire, and one in construction. enfinium diverts 2.7 million tonnes of unrecyclable waste from climate-damaging landfill, putting it to good use by turning it into home grown energy, enough to power 600,000 UK homes. enfinium’s ambition is to transform its facilities into local ‘decarbonisation hubs’ powered by the millions of tonnes of unrecyclable waste the UK will produce for decades to come. Using existing energy from waste infrastructure, enfinium could contribute to heat networks, produce electrolytic hydrogen, or use carbon capture technology to provide durable, high quality carbon removals which will be critical for the UK to achieve net zero by 2050. For more on enfinium, please visit www.enfinium.co.uk.
About Picker Pals
Picker Pals is an initiative for six- to nine-year-olds focussed on environmental stewardship, learning and fun. Adopted by over 70% of primary schools in Ireland, Picker Pals is now growing in the UK and beyond. The year-long programme instils pride of stewardship in children who use a unique “Picker Pack” to lead their families on litter picking adventures in their local areas. They return to school to tell their stories to classmates and teachers. The programme is supported by engaging initiatives and interactions, embedding behavioural change and a positive attitude. Through participating in Picker Pals, children and their families learn that they have real power to make an impact. For more on Picker Pals, please visit www.pickerpalsworld.org.
