Kinecx Energy Raises £5,300 for Autism NI at Inaugural Northern Ireland Utilities Cup

Ballymena Showgrounds, Northern Ireland – June 2026

Kinecx Energy has successfully hosted the inaugural Northern Ireland Utilities Cup at Ballymena Showgrounds, bringing together organisations from across the utilities sector for a day of football, fundraising, and collaboration in support of Autism NI.

The event, which took place on Friday 5^th June, welcomed 18 teams representing 13 organisations from across Northern Ireland’s utilities and infrastructure landscape. Participants included organisations such as Openreach, NIE, firmus energy, Phoenix, Kier, Evolve and Action Renewables, among others, in what proved to be a highly competitive and community-driven tournament.

Thanks to the generosity of participants, sponsors, and supporters, the event raised an impressive £5,300 for Autism NI, surpassing pre-event fundraising expectations and providing vital support for autistic people and their families across the region.

The tournament featured group stages followed by knockout rounds, ensuring all teams had multiple opportunities to compete throughout the day. Alongside the football, attendees enjoyed a range of activities including crossbar challenges, inflatable games, and a charity raffle featuring prizes such as hotel stays, experience vouchers, and more.

After a series of strong performances, Openreach emerged as overall champions of the Northern Ireland Utilities Cup, while McGaffin Mechanical claimed victory in the Plate competition.

Beyond the results on the pitch, the event fostered meaningful networking and strengthened relationships across the sector, highlighting the shared commitment of organisations to give back to local communities. The strong turnout reflected a collective desire within the industry to collaborate for a shared cause.

All proceeds from the event went directly to Autism NI, a charity dedicated to supporting autistic people and their families through services, advocacy, and awareness initiatives across Northern Ireland.

Sorcha Mathews Corporate Fundraising Manager for Autism NI reflected on the event and what this means to the charity:

“The inaugural Northern Ireland Utilities Cup organised by Kinecx was more than a football tournament for Autism NI. Thanks to Kinecx Energy’s vision and leadership, £5,300 has been raised to fund the Autism NI Helpline, and the team also raised vital awareness of Autism NI’s work throughout Northern Ireland. We would like to thank Kinecx Energy, all participating teams, sponsors, volunteers and supporters for their generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to our cause. Their support will have a lasting impact on the lives of the families we support every day.”