Cadbury Foundation at 90: Heritage, community impact and giving back
In 1935, The Cadbury Foundation was created in memory of George and Richard Cadbury, who took over the running of the Cadbury business after their father, John Cadbury, kickstarted it over 200 years ago.
The charity embodies the Cadbury brothers’ belief that supporting local communities benefits both society and business, and for nine decades has been championing healthier lifestyles, skill-building for future generations, and supporting causes close to its employees' hearts.
Marking the milestone anniversary today, we caught up with LOUISE STIGANT, managing director of Mondelēz International UK and Ireland and Chair of Trustees, to talk about the Cadbury Foundation’s rich history, what’s in store to celebrate 90 years, and why it’s so important for big businesses to give back.
Can you tell us about the Cadbury Foundation?
The Cadbury Foundation, which was originally founded back in 1935 as “The Charitable Brothers Trust”, was established in recognition of the Cadbury brothers’ belief that supporting local communities benefits both society and business.
Since its beginning, the Cadbury Foundation has been a grant-giving charity to local communities across the UK and Ireland, helping local people and charities to flourish and better serve their communities. The very first grant recorded was on 8 November, 1935, for £40 to Stirchley Girls’ Club.
The Cadbury Foundation regularly donates financial grants to other organisations - but much more than money - it is our ongoing commitment to the local communities that we operate in and the involvement of our colleagues that sets us apart from other CSR initiatives.
The Foundation has a few key focuses, including health and wellbeing, and skill development, but perhaps the thing that makes it stand out the most is how we involve our employees in our grant giving. We partner with big organisations but also back smaller UK charities that our employees care about.
What impact has the Cadbury Foundation had on local communities across the country?
In the last 15 years alone, we have donated more than £10m to charities and community partners. Each year, the Foundation supports various charities and programmes across the UK, all of which positively impact local communities each year.
The Foundation also has long-term, strategic partnerships with organisations, such as Grocery Aid and IGD, enabling sustained positive impacts and increased reach. It’s tempting for businesses to jump from one initiative to the next, but the real difference comes from sticking with it. By staying committed and tenacious, we can make a meaningful impact that truly lasts.
What about its impact in the West Midlands?
The Cadbury Foundation funds a whole host of projects and charities throughout the West Midlands and is particularly having a huge impact on healthier lives within the region.
For 13 years, we’ve supported students, parents, teachers and people in the West Midlands community to lead a healthier lifestyle through our Health For Life® programme. The programme aims to promote and encourage healthy eating, cooking skills, food growing and physical activity and has positively engaged with around 266,600 students and adults, helping them to live a healthier life.
Health for Life food growing spaces, run as Green Gyms®, have also been funded for the local Birmingham community, in 20 places across the city.
How do colleagues get involved in the Cadbury Foundation?
We have a great culture of volunteering, and our colleagues are encouraged to share their time and expertise within their local communities, using team days as a chance to give back, with a focus on creating lasting change.
As part of the Foundation’s 90th anniversary celebrations, we’re proud to be donating £9,000 to charities chosen by our colleagues. Through our “Do What’s Right” Bravo recognition programme, any colleague recognised in June had the chance to nominate a charity close to their heart. We randomly selected winners, and each charity they pick will receive a £100 donation. It’s a great way to celebrate 90 years of the Foundation, and give back to the causes that matter most to our team.
A key focus area of the Foundation is colleague passions, and funding is allocated each year to programmes like ‘Cash Match’, where we match the money colleagues raise for charity. Our “Your Charity Your Choice” programme allows colleagues across the UK & Ireland to nominate and vote for wellbeing charities to receive donations that matter to them personally.
What’s next for the Cadbury Foundation?
This year, we have some incredibly exciting plans to celebrate 90 years of the Cadbury Foundation, all centred around charities and community projects across the UK&I, with the involvement of our colleagues. Alongside our regular grants, we will be making a £90k donation to Trussell (an anti-poverty charity and community of food banks), building on our existing partnership with the Cadbury brand and colleague engagement, through foodbank collections and Christmas Jumper Day, which last year raised £15k.
Internally, we’ll also be championing and celebrating our colleagues through our Purple Heart Awards – where the winners choose a charity of their choice to receive a £5k donation.
In terms of long-term and the future of the charity, the Cadbury Foundation was set up with just £40 in 1935. In the last 15 years alone, we’ve donated £10m, which I believe is a testament to how small acorns can grow into something incredible.
We make it our business to get involved in the communities in which we operate, and as we celebrate 90 years of making a difference, we’re inspired to build on this legacy and look forward to the next nine decades of supporting communities, empowering people and creating lasting impact.
Pictured (top): Staff during a Cadbury Foundation volunteering day
