McCain doubles its 2023 donation for families raising disabled children

On Tuesday 3 January 2023, McCain announced that it will double this year’s donation to Family Fund, in a move to offer further support to families raising disabled children during the exceptionally challenging current economic climate.

The incremental donation of £300,000 comes on top of McCain and Family Fund’s existing three-year partnership. The partnership has already seen the brand pledge £1 million up to 2023, to provide 150,000 grants to families supported by the charity. Recently released research has shown families raising disabled children are disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Much needed support

The research conducted by Family Fund found that over 70% of parents and carers that the charity supports are unable to work amid the cost-of-living crisis due to the care their children needs, alongside a post-pandemic reduction in support services for children, which have often gone hand-in-hand with reduced benefits.

As a further demonstration of McCain’s belief that every family should be able to enjoy mealtimes together, the additional £300,000 injection will help Family Fund grant recipients to purchase essential items that are critical to easing the strain of their day-to-day lives. From kitchen appliances such as fridges and ovens, to technology, such as tablets and computers, the grants will support some of the UK’s most vulnerable families, who are disproportionately feeling the pinch of recent inflation rates and mounting fuel expenditures.

Cheryl Ward, Group Chief Executive at Family Fund said: “Now more than ever, families with seriously ill or disabled children are struggling to keep their head above water, and the cost of living crisis means that families have felt this strain much more acutely than most.

“Last year we delivered over 170,919 grants and services, worth over £37 million, to families on low incomes across the UK. Vital support from our partners means we can significantly extend help to families during these profoundly challenging times.”

Cheryl Ward, Group Chief Executive

Mark Hodge, Marketing Director at McCain Foods added: “As a family-owned business, we believe all families should be able to enjoy the little moments that matter together like mealtimes. Looking at the current climate, and following the stats unveiled by Family Fund’s recent research, it’s no question that families raising disabled or seriously ill children, who are disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis, need our support now more than ever. Therefore, it’s incredibly important to us that we play our part and help alleviate some of the current strain, and we’re happy to be able to do this with this additional donation.

Family Fund on TV

McCain has also launched a new national primetime advertising campaign across the UK’s top channels and radio stations that aims to promote the ongoing work Family Fund does to support its families. The heart-warming campaign is centred around two young beneficiaries of Family Fund support: 8-year-old Kaj and 9-year-old Max, as they sit down to enjoy their family mealtime using products that they received through McCain and Family Fund partnership.