LOCAL disability support charity, Community Equality Disability Action (CEDA), has received a £5,000 donation from The Cadbury Foundation, thanks to the support of local Mondelēz International employees in Crediton.

CEDA, which is a Devon-based charity dedicated to promoting the social inclusion of people with physical, sensory or learning disabilities, was selected by employees based at Mondelez International’s Crediton site, as part of The Cadbury Foundation’s annual ‘Your Charity, Your Choice’ programme.

Now in its 14th year, the initiative is designed to give Mondelēz International employees across the UK and Ireland the chance to give back to the communities the company operates in, inviting colleagues to put forward nominations of charities or projects that are close to their heart.

The charities, voted for by colleagues, are then selected to receive a generous grant from The Cadbury Foundation, a charitable trust set-up in recognition of company founders, George and Richard Cadbury and their investment in the welfare of their employees and wider communities.

Marilyn Frankum, Credit Controller/Credit Risk Lead at Mondelēz International, nominated CEDA as one of 72 across the UK and Ireland to receive a grant, receiving support from wider colleagues at the nearby Mondelēz International site in Crediton.

Commenting on the donation, Marilyn said: “CEDA does so much fantastic work supporting disabled people and ensuring they feel valued and respected.

“With CEDA’s support, my granddaughter has grown in confidence and independence, even setting up her own radio show, West End Wednesday, to share her love of musicals.

“I’m grateful to my colleagues for supporting this nomination and delighted that this grant will help CEDA continue its important work supporting disabled children and adults in the local community.”

Craig Bowden, Senior Manager from CEDA, said: “We are extremely grateful to The Cadbury Foundation for this significant donation, which will make a real difference to disabled people in the local area, helping them build meaningful friendships and achieve their personal goals.”

“At CEDA, through projects like Access All Aerials, our community radio across Exeter, we’re able to give disabled people a voice and thanks to this grant, we can keep making that possible.”

Kelly Farrell, Community Affairs Manager at Mondelēz International, added: “Our ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme was set up to support important causes and charities close to our employees’ hearts, and we’re incredibly proud that for 14 years, the programme has done exactly that.

“Since we launched Your Charity, Your Choice, The Cadbury Foundation has awarded more than £1 million to support the vital work of hundreds of charities and community programmes across the UK and Ireland, which have been hand-selected by local employees.”

“We’re thrilled that £90,000 was donated last year, as The Cadbury Foundation celebrated its 90th anniversary and we’re delighted that, with the foundation’s support, CEDA can continue delivering its services supporting the community, helping local people live their lives to the full.”

For more information on The Cadbury Foundation, visit www.cadbury.co.uk/cadbury-foundation and for further details on CEDA, head to Homepage - CEDA.