Five charities from across the UK have been hand-selected by employees at Mondelēz International sites in the West Midlands to each receive a grant of £5,000.

Amy & Friends, Special Needs Adventure Playground, Cardiac Risk in the Young and national charities Sense and children’s charity Barnardo’s, have received the substantial amount from The Cadbury Foundation, as part of its ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ initiative.

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

Amy and Friends was founded in 2007 by Jayne Hughes after her daughter Amy received her diagnosis of Cockayne Syndrome at the age of 15, sadly in 2020, Amy passed away aged 28, yet Amy’s legacy lives on through the charity supporting children and families suffering from Cockayne Syndrome and related disorders.

The £5,000 donation will enable the charity to continue organising activities for group members, which prevents isolation and allows families to learn more about the illness and meet up to support each other.

SNAP is a small, Cannock-based charity supporting young people with disabilities to join in with the types of play others may take for granted. Cadbury World’s Operations Manager Tim Gimbert nominated the charity, which will use the grant to add specialist sports equipment to its facility.

Since founded in 1995, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has been working to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). Martin Hunt and Wayne Bufton from Mondelēz International’s Marlbrook site nominated the charity to receive the donation, which will help CRY continue to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening, research and supporting affected families.

Bournville-based colleagues Craig Holton and Carl O’Malley chose national charities Sense and Barnardo’s to receive the substantial grants, which will assist both charities to help make an invaluable difference and improve the lives of thousands of children across the UK through its life-changing support.

Jayne Hughes, founder of Amy & Friends, said:

“Our goal is to continue helping thousands of families and we can’t do this without continued support and donations, so we’re delighted to have received this substantial grant from The Cadbury Foundation, which will enable us to continually support many people across the world.”

Operations manager at Cadbury World Tim Gimbert nominated SNAP to receive the donation, Tim commented: “For a small, local charity such as SNAP, this donation will make an incredible difference and help them enhance their facilities for local community groups. I’m delighted that my nomination was selected by my colleagues, and to know that the grant will help the charity continue to deliver its fantastic support.”

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. Across all Mondelēz International UK sites, £65,000 has been donated to charities, projects and clubs across the country as part of the annual ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme.

Kelly Farrell, community affairs manager at Mondelēz International, added: “We’re proud to be able to support causes that are important to our colleagues through our ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme and delighted to know that these West Midlands grants will make a true difference and enable the charities to continue their vital work.”