Community initiatives across the South West region benefit from Albemarle’s Community Investment funding

More than 20 community initiatives across the South West have benefited from grant funding as part of mining giant Albemarle’s 2023 Community Investment Program. Arts groups, sporting clubs and community centres are among the 28 first-round recipients of the grants, which aim to highlight education, environment and sustainability and health and culture within the community. With a second round of funding planned for later this year, Albemarle Australia country manager Beverley East said this year’s application response was the company’s best yet. “Local not-for-profit community groups and organisations are very active in the South West and we are happy that we could support 28 in our round one grants this year . . . the largest number Albemarle has supported in a single year so far,” she said. “The program reflects the dedication and passion of these groups, enriching the cultural fabric of the South West region and we look forward to supporting even more initiatives over coming grant rounds and years.” Recipients come from Harvey through to Busselton, with the company’s Kemerton plant site director Dan O’Shea saying he hopes the money with help to “enhance” the community in a variety of different areas. “Some of our grants will be used to support a youth program in Australind, to assist with multicultural playgroups in and around Bunbury, to send primary students to see a puppet musical, to buy new rash vests for senior members of a surf club, to purchase laser-cutting equipment so older people can teach younger people new skills and to upgrade equipment needed to record oral histories of Harvey residents,” he said. “These organisations and projects help to make a real difference to the lives of people throughout the region and everyone at Kemerton and across the whole of Albemarle Australia is excited to be part of that support.”