Warburton launches philanthropic arm to help more Brits facing financial uncertainty
The Foundation kicks off with a pledge to donate, by the end of 2022, one million products to community hubs (schools and food banks) to be passed on to families most in need.
It is also trialling the delivery of fresh bread to 30 schools across the UK, with the help of Magic Breakfast, which works to ensure no child is too hungry to learn.
Magic Breakfast
The registered non-profit that provides free breakfasts to children at risk of hunger. The charity currently works with over 1,000 schools in disadvantaged areas across England and Scotland, ensuring that over 200,000 kids start the school day with the energy and nutrition they need to make the most of their morning lessons.
Free online resources for UK schools
Additionally, to tackle the gap in food education, The Foundation is encouraging primary and secondary schools across the UK to take advantage of its Bake the Most of Life initiative, which is offering free, curriculum-linked online resources.
Curated in collaboration with We Are Future’s National Schools Partnership (NSP), the lessons and interactive content are designed to spark young minds, particularly on the concepts of eating healthy and food provenance.
We Are Futures
The NSP is an educational network of over 100,000 school and college teachers, experts and leaders in the UK, Europe, US, Australia and India. Its members have access to free teaching resources – including digital and physical materials, samples, immersive events, competitions and prizes – all designed to engage young people, their families and educators.
Warburtons is aiming to reach 1.5 million children through Bake the Most of Life within the next three years.
Need a financial boost?
The Warburtons Foundation’s third pillar – its Financial Giving programme – has made a commitment to provide funds to support projects, activities and organisation that focus on solving significant social issues.
Submissions are now open and the company is calling on charities and community groups across the UK to apply for grants from £400 up to £20,000.
Building on its legacy of community activity, Warburtons has already provided support for projects that range from cooking classes for families with disabled children in West Bromwich to the instillation of beehives in Derbyshire.
Based on this ‘localism approach’, investment funds are allocated to the company’s local bakeries and depots, to be granted by its Community Champions who are positioned to make the best decisions for local communities.
The Foundation also works with the Charities Aid Foundation to ensure that all applications are eligible, that funds are correctly distributed and that its social impact is accurately recorded.
‘Doing all we can to absorb the impact’
“As a family business, we know how difficult the past two years have been for people across the country,” said Jonathan Warburton, chairman of Warburtons.
“And we know that right now, in many ways, things aren’t getting any easier. That’s why we have launched The Warburtons Foundation, with an ambitious pledge to donate 1m fresh baked products this year to those in need.
“Our industry is dealing with a range of challenges at the moment, from the rising price of wheat to the availability of ingredients, and we are doing all that we can to absorb the impact these are having on our business, to avoid affecting those that enjoy our products every day.
“We have seen our business weather significant impacts over the past two years, but we’ve come out on the other side and want to continue giving back to our communities.”
Born and ‘bread’ in Bolton, Lancashire, Warburtons was established in 1876 as a grocery shop by Thomas and Ellen Warburton and remains a family-owned firm today, actively run by the fifth generation of the Warburton family.
The bakery manufacturing giant has grown into the number one brand in the UK bakery sector, delivering its 90-strong portfolio – over two million products daily – direct to its 18,500 retail customers. The company manages 11 bakeries and 18 depots around Britain, employing nearly 5,000 employees.
