Birmingham Airport has contributed £5,000 to support a young fundraiser’s efforts against food poverty.

We Can CIC, established to raise funds for food banks through the sale of aluminum drink cans, will utilize this grant to purchase a new can baler. This enhancement will increase their processing capacity and help set new fundraising records.

The initiative is driven by Ryan Hulance, a dedicated 12-year-old from Solihull, who became inspired to help those affected by food insecurity after witnessing his parents’ generosity in providing meals to a family in need. With his family’s help, Ryan sorts and flattens donated aluminum cans, which are sold for scrap to fund local food banks.

Since its establishment in 2020, Ryan and his family have successfully processed over one million cans, raising more than £6,000 for food banks in their community. Previously, Ryan’s father, John, manually flattened cans for sale, but with the new baler funded by Birmingham Airport, the initiative can now handle more donations and exceed its previous fundraising achievements.

John Hulance remarked on the importance of the grant, stating, “This grant will make a world of difference to CIC; saving hours of work and allowing us to focus on supporting our communities further.”

This funding is part of the Birmingham Airport Community Trust Fund, which awards grants of up to £5,000 to local groups impacted by the airport’s operations. Last year, the Trust allocated over £175,000 in grants to various local causes.

Tom Denton, Head of Sustainability at Birmingham Airport, noted, “The trustees decided to award We Can with this monetary grant as the initiative provides local residents with a sustainable method of making a difference through recycling. We’re pleased that this donation allows us to support a local initiative and we are impressed with Ryan’s commitment and impact in the community.”