About Us

History

The Fund's Beginning

Mr J.H. MacadamAt a meeting of the London and South England Confectioners Protection Society in 1918, Mr J.H. Macadam proposed that the time was right to form a Benevolent Fund.  It was a short speech, but it must have been a stirring one because £600 was collected on the spot. By the end of 1918 a committee had been appointed and over £4,500 raised.

In 1928 the Fund became national, and regional committees were formed. The title Confectioners Benevolent Fund was formally adopted and in 1962 the Fund became a registered charity.

From this small local beginning, when in post-war London seven pensioners received £26 per annum, the CBF or 'Sweet Charity' now helps over 1350 beneficiaries nationwide with practical and financial support, and most of all, with friendship.

The History Of The Fund 1918 - present day

1918 - Mr J. H. Macadam proposed that a Benevolent Fund should be set up

1920 - The first Annual Festival was held with Sydney Pascall, the Fund's first President, presiding

1923 - Fund's income reached £1,000, under President Paul S. Cadbury

1930 - The first pension outside London was awarded to a lady in Sheffield

1934 - The Liverpool committee organised a Candy Ball, the first time this title was used

1935 - The Fund received its first legacy. A bequest of £250 from a past confectioner

1941 - CBF offices were bombed in the London, Blitz - all records were lost

1947 - First Candy Queen competition was held at the Lyceum, London

1949 - J Crawford broke the £10,000 mark, with a total of £13,213 raised

1954 - First member of staff - Winifred Stamp (nee Thomas) - was appointed as Welfare Officer for the Fund

1967 - First race night was held at The Hanover Grand, London

1977 - Annual reports dating from 1918 came to light

1984 - President Desmond Cracknell took the Fund over the £100,000 mark

1988 - Derek Patterson OBE became the Fund's first Director General

1989 - "Sweet Charity" Logo adopted

1991 - Income reached £500,000 under Peter Barnes

1992 - Charles Patel became the first retailer to be elected as National President

1993 - Area Committees raised over £100,000

1998 - Beneficiaries topped 1,000

1996 - Launch of Candy Carer, the Fund's magazine for beneficiaries & supporters

1999 - Candy Ball raised over £250,000

2000 - Website: www.sweetcharity.net is launched

2005 - Fund became an incorporated Charity

2008 - Fund signs up to the Fundraising Standards Board scheme and is granted use of the 'FRSB tick'