Disabled children have a sweet time at Cadbury World thanks to Freemasons grant

3 mins read

Monday 9 May 2022

Tags: better together, Family events

Disabled children in Birmingham and their families got the chance to explore exciting exhibitions and sample chocolate treats at Cadbury World thanks to a Warwickshire Freemasons grant to Contact.

The £150,000 grant meant we were able to offer 40 families free tickets to Cadbury World at Bourneville where they discovered the origins of the cocoa bean in the Aztec Jungle, journeyed through a chocolate wonderland on the Beanmobiles of the magical Cadabra ride, and enjoyed a 4D Chocolate Adventure Zone and cinema experience.

For many, this was one of the first major outings they have had as a family in many months because of the pandemic.

Harriet Squirrell, Contact’s Family Support Programme Manager, said: “We’re very grateful to Warwickshire Freemasons for their generous grant. Many families have felt alone and isolated during the pandemic and Contact’s Better Together events like this trip to Cadbury World are the perfect antidote. They’re an opportunity for families to share fun experiences, help them make friends and build support networks.”

No words can express how grateful I am for the free tickets to Cadbury World. Watching my youngest daughter Mia and her sister Maisie smile and actually enjoy themselves was beautiful. But without yourselves offering this I wouldn’t have attempted it. For three days I’ve felt sick and so worried about how I would manage and how my daughter would cope. She was a superstar! She coped so well and the staff at Cadbury World were all so helpful and friendly. The queue-jumping wrist band made it possible for Mia to enter the entertainment  because waiting is not an option.

The sad thing is I don’t take my children anywhere as I fear I won’t cope, my car isn’t ideal to manage Mia and I need PA support. The changing facilities were a bonus, as this is one reason I don’t go out.

Bumping into other parents made you feel like you weren’t alone. I just wanted you to know what these tickets meant to us all today. I would love to return to Cadbury World again.

A parent carer who came on the Cadbury World trip

The grant from Warwickshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends from across England and Wales.

Peter Manning, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master from Warwickshire Freemasons, said: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Contact to offer families in Birmingham with disabled children an opportunity to have this unique experience and hopefully have loads of fun. We know it’s been a particularly difficult time for disabled children and their families, and we hope that their trip to Cadbury World has been enjoyable and full of chocolate and excitement!”