Fuller, Smith & Turner (Fuller’s) is proud to announce that its total fundraising for charity partner Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) has now surpassed £1 million.
Special Olympics GB uses the power of sport to transform the lives of children and adults with intellectual (learning) disabilities, providing opportunities at grassroots clubs across England, Scotland, and Wales. Fuller’s named it as its charity partner in 2018 and, since then, its pubs and hotels have staged multiple fundraising and engagement opportunities with the charity’s 6,600 registered athletes.
Underpinning the fundraising strategy, Fuller’s has donated 50 pence from every child’s meal purchased at its venues to Special Olympics GB, allowing families to contribute to the cause while enjoying a meal out. Additionally, Fuller’s has utilised the Pennies fundraising platform, which allows customers to make small donations during contactless food and drink payments to Special Olympics GB.
However, the principal element of Fuller’s fundraising has come through the commitment of its staff to making a difference.
Since the spring of 2022, Fuller’s has staged an annual sponsored walk, named the Fuller’s Bridge Walk, where nearly 100 staff unite with Special Olympics GB athletes, staff, and volunteers to walk more than 20 miles along the River Thames, visiting several of its pubs and restaurants along the way. In 2024, the 20-mile route began at The Bell & Crown in Chiswick and concluded at The Conductor in Farringdon, raising nearly £30,000.
Last autumn, Fuller’s hosted its fifth Charity Unified Football Tournament, where 32 teams, made up of its staff and suppliers, competed in six-a-side matches. In keeping with Special Olympics GB’s unified sports, each team included an athlete with an intellectual disability, fostering unity and inclusion on the field. The 2024 tournament raised £21,000, a testament to the power of sport in breaking down barriers and building lasting relationships.
Fuller’s has also made strides in promoting inclusion in the workplace. In collaboration with LVS Hassocks – a specialist school for children with autism – and Special Olympics GB, it launched a guide to recruiting individuals who are either neurodiverse or have an intellectual disability. The guide, which is utilised daily by its pubs and hotels, is an important tool in creating a more inclusive workplace and addressing the high unemployment rate of 94% among people with intellectual disabilities in the UK.
By encouraging neurodiverse and intellectually disabled individuals to apply for roles, Fuller’s is not only helping to break down employment barriers but is also setting an example for other businesses to follow in creating diverse, welcoming, and inclusive environments.
Laura Baxter MBE, Chief Executive of Special Olympics GB, said: “Our partnership with Fuller’s has really gone from strength to strength since 2018, and we are proud of how our work is helping to drive societal change for those with intellectual disabilities.
“It has put our athletes at the centre of all activity and formed a blueprint for all of our corporate partnerships, covering staff engagement, increasing awareness, fundraising, and employability. The annual football tournaments and bridge walks have shown how easy it is to drive inclusive practice.
“Thank you for driving the partnership at your side; the impact is very much testament to your commitment and dedication to see societal change.”
Simon Emeny, Chief Executive of Fuller’s, said: “This has been a fantastic partnership from the beginning. We’ve loved working with Special Olympics and I’m so proud of all our team members for helping us hit this million-pound milestone. We have had some memorable days – at the football tournaments and Bridge Walks for example – with our friends at Special Olympics and getting to know the people that the charity supports has been really special.
“One of the proudest elements of this partnership is the work we have undertaken to improve recruitment of team members with intellectual disabilities. It has made a real difference and moved our relationship from pure fundraising to one that has delivered long term sustainable benefits to all parties.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to our team members who have supported the partnership and taken part in fundraising. I’d also like to say a big thank you to our customers too. The money raised through donations, kids meal purchases and Pennies has been a major factor in delivering such an excellent result.”
Ends
For further information and photography, please contact Tom Rawlings on tom.rawlings@sogb.org.uk / 07789 813999.
For further information, please contact:
Georgina Wald 020 8996 2198 georgina.wald@fullers.co.uk
Alice Monteath 020 8996 2074 alice.monteath@fullers.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Special Olympics GB
Special Olympics Great Britain (GB), set up in 1978, is a non-profit charity which provides year-round sports coaching and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
It currently has 98 accredited programmes in England, Scotland and Wales and provides coaching and competition opportunities in 27 sports. These programmes are run by over 3,800 volunteers who support more than 6,600 athletes with intellectual disabilities to take part.
Special Olympics GB is more than just an opportunity to take part in sport – it transforms lives. It provides opportunities to increase confidence, realise potential, develop physical fitness and mental well-being, demonstrate courage and experience new friendships.
The work of Special Olympics GB is currently funded by individuals, trust and corporate donations and financial support is crucial to enable us to continue our work.
Learn more at www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk and engage with us on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn.
About Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health and leadership.
With more than six million athletes and Special Olympics Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in over 200 accredited Programs, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 Games and competitions every year. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.
About Fuller, Smith & Turner
Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC is a premium pubs and hotels business. With an outstanding estate of iconic pubs and hotels across the Southern half of England, our purpose is to create experiences that nourish the soul. At our heart is the warm and inviting welcome of a fantastic pub or hotel, delivered by an exceptional team of over 5,000 talented individuals. We have been delighting our customers – with delicious, fresh, seasonal food, an exciting drinks range, and beautiful bedrooms – for 180 years. Fuller’s has 185 Managed Pubs and Hotels, with 1,025 bedrooms and 153 Tenanted Inns, all aiming to ensure that everyone leaves that little bit happier than they arrived.
For further information and photography, please contact Tom Rawlings on tom.rawlings@sogb.org.uk / 07789 813999.
For further information, please contact:
Georgina Wald 020 8996 2198 georgina.wald@fullers.co.uk
Alice Monteath 020 8996 2074 alice.monteath@fullers.co.uk
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