Cadbury World was paid a special Christmas visit from Buttons, a five-month old guide-dog-in-training, who has been partly funded by kind donations from visitors to the attraction.
Named after the chocolatey treat by the Cadbury World team, Buttons’ training has been partly funded by donations collected around site, with an incredible £5,000 raised for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association over the last three years. In return for the generous contribution, Buttons visited Cadbury World to meet the team who named her and who then spent their afternoon giving her some puppy love.
Buttons has already begun her training to become a guide dog and over 24 months, she will learn how to help her owner throughout their day to day life. Right now, she’s getting her puppy teeth and learning how to sit, stay and lie down, as well as feeling comfortable in different spaces such as shops, parks…and chocolatey attractions!
Diane Mitchell, marketing manager at Cadbury World, said: “It’s fantastic to see how our visitor donations can help to fund and support amazing charities like the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Buttons is an adorable, sweet-natured pup, who we’re sure will make an incredible guide dog.”
Miles Northwood, community fundraising development officer for Guide Dogs Birmingham, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to all the visitors at Cadbury World who donated towards the £5,000 to name and support trainee guide dog puppy Buttons.
“It costs more than £55,000 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement and Guide Dogs relies almost entirely on public donations, so we are really grateful for companies, like Cadbury World and their visitors for supporting us.”
All chocolate-lovers are welcome at the Bournville-based attraction. The tour is wheelchair accessible, with Changing Places and accessible toilets, as well as relaxed SEN sessions. Guide dogs are allowed throughout, apart from in production areas – these zones offer guide dog sitting services and a member of staff will be on hand to offer additional assistance. For more information visit www.cadburyworld.co.uk/plan-your-visit/accessibility
Cadbury World guests will be able to donate to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association again in 2020, as the attraction gets set to raise another £5,000 to name and support another guide-dog-in-training.
For more information and to book tickets visit www.cadburyworld.co.uk