Cadbury World has been paid a special visit from Rosie, a 12-month old guide-dog-in-training, who has been partially funded by the Bournville-based attraction’s fundraising efforts.

Named by the team at the attraction after Roses, the much-loved Cadbury boxed chocolates, Rosie’s training has been funded by a £5,000 grant from The Cadbury Foundation, as part of its ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ scheme.

To say thank you for the £5,000 donation, Rosie took a trip to Cadbury World to meet the team who named her and helped fund her life-changing training.

Rosie will begin her training programme in January, which will prepare her to become a life-changing guide dog and support someone living with sight loss.

At the moment, Rosie’s puppy teeth are just starting to come through and she’s being taught how to sit, stay and lie down, as well as learning how to feel comfortable in difference spaces such as parks and shops.

Rosie is the second guide dog the chocolatey attraction has supported, after its team raised £5,000 to name and support guide dog Buttons in 2019. Almost three years on, Buttons is a fully-qualified guide dog who is providing vital support for her owner on a daily basis.

The Cadbury Foundation was set up in 1935 in recognition of Richard and George Cadbury and their investment into the welfare of their employees and the local community. As part of its annual ‘Your Charity Your Choice’ campaign, Mondelēz International UK employees are invited to nominate wellbeing-related charities or projects close to their hearts, with the final shortlisted charities voted for by the wider work force.

Michelle Darragh, assistant visitor services manager and community champion at Cadbury World, nominated Guide Dogs for this significant donation, as part of the attraction’s ongoing fundraising efforts for the charity. With the team seeing the support and life-changing work of the charity first-hand, Michelle’s nomination received huge backing from her colleagues and was granted the large sum for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Michelle commented: “Receiving the regular pup-dates during Buttons’ training and seeing how the funds have positively impacted somebody’s life is incredible, so we’re delighted to have been granted another £5,000 to help fund the training for Rosie, another future life-changer.

“It’s fantastic to see how donations can help to fund and support an amazing charity like Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and we’re sure Rosie will also make an incredible guide dog for her future owner!”

Miles Northwood, Community Fundraising Relationship Manager at Guide Dogs, added: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to Cadbury World and The Cadbury Foundation for the £5,000 donation to name and support trainee guide dog puppy Rosie.

“As a guide dog owner, I have personal experience of just what an amazing difference a guide dog can make to someone living with sight loss.

“It costs £54,800 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement and Guide Dogs relies almost entirely on public donations, so we are extremely grateful for companies, like Cadbury World, for continuing to help our charity and support people living with sight loss.”

The self-guided tour at Cadbury World is wheelchair accessible, with a Changing Places facility and accessible toilets. Guide dogs are allowed throughout, apart from in the Chocolate Making zone  which offers a guide dog sitting service and a member of staff will be on hand to offer additional assistance. For more information, click here.

For more information and to book tickets to Cadbury World, visit www.cadburyworld.co.uk, and for further details on Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, head to www.guidedogs.org.uk.