Cadbury parent awards £20,000 to West Midlands charities

Four charities from across the West Midlands have been selected by employees at Cadbury’s owner, Mondelēz International to each receive a donation of £5,000.

Sandwell Advocacy, Lindens Primary School in Walsall, Blackwell First School and Cannock-based charity Special Needs Adventure Playground (SNAP) will receive money from The Cadbury Foundation, as part of its ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme.

Each year, all Mondelēz International UK employees are invited to nominate wellbeing-related charities or projects close to their hearts, with the final shortlisted charities up for vote amongst their colleagues.

Sandwell Advocacy, nominated by Michael Huggins within the Bournville site, has been developing a cancer advocacy project for older people, designed to support any mental health issues that can also arise following a diagnosis. The Cadbury Foundation’s donation will aid training courses for its volunteers and much more.

Lindens Primary School, nominated by Wayne Hand at the company’s site in Minworth, will use the grant to purchase a multi-sensory tipi. This will provide children suffering from anxiety and depression a relaxing and quirky place to enjoy. The tipi will also double as a soft play structure for the five children at the school who require specialised physical education.

Through fundraising events, the PFTA at Blackwell First School provides resources for the school that lie outside of state funding. The contribution will go towards the PFTA’s current project of increasing outdoor learning opportunities, which benefit the children’s mental well-being.

SNAP is a small charity supporting young people with disabilities to join in with the types of play others may take for granted. This funding will be used to build a roof for its current block-paved outdoor play area, allowing even more open space regardless of the weather.

The Cadbury Foundation was set up in 1935 in recognition of Richard and George Cadbury and their investment in the welfare of their employees and the local community.

Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, said: “We’re extremely proud to be able to support the charities that are important to our employees through our ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme. Each of the charities selected by our West Midlands based employees represent exactly what this scheme is about.”