**Sweetmaker Swizzels Launches £7,000 Community Fund to Celebrate Refreshers’ 70th Birthday**
As part of a major anniversary celebration, iconic confectionery brand Swizzels is reaching out to communities up and down the UK with a new initiative aimed at rejuvenating local spaces and projects. In honour of 70 years since the creation of their much-loved Refreshers sweets, the company has announced the launch of ‘The Great Community Refresh’—a scheme offering seven individual grants of £1,000, each commemorating one decade of their famous treat.
Applications for these community grants are now open, giving local groups, charities and volunteer-led initiatives the chance to secure funding for projects that promise to provide long-lasting benefits. Interested groups are invited to put forward their proposals via the Swizzels website, where they must explain not only why their community venture deserves funding but also how the £1,000 reward would be employed to bring about positive, lasting transformation.
Sarah-Louise Heslop, Swizzels’ head of marketing, commented on the company’s approach: “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 70 years of Refreshers than by giving back to the communities that have supported us for generations. The Great Community Refresh is all about celebrating the people and places that make the UK unique.”
The scope of the grant is deliberately broad, ensuring that a wide array of local ambitions can vie for support. From painting tired community halls and brightening neglected green areas, to installing new equipment in youth spaces or supporting grassroots clubs, Swizzels hopes to encourage projects big and small. Their particular aim is to support those efforts that strengthen neighbourhood bonds or inject joy into everyday life.
A panel of judges will review the entries after the closing date at the end of June, with winners expected to be announced in July. There’s an emphasis on recognising plans that demonstrate clear and meaningful impact—whether that’s the creation of a vibrant mural, the restoration of a local library or improvements to a beloved park. “We know there’s no shortage of passion out there,” said Heslop. “Now’s your chance to show us how we could help make a real difference.”
Participation in The Great Community Refresh is reserved for UK-based, not-for-profit or volunteer-driven groups. Applicants are encouraged to check full details and terms and conditions on the Swizzels website.
Beyond the grant scheme, the anniversary year is also marked by the launch of a new addition to the Refreshers line-up: the Tropical Chew Bar—bringing a fresh twist to a classic sweet enjoyed by generations.
The initiative represents a growing trend amongst British brands to intertwine significant milestones with social responsibility. By investing directly in the wellbeing and sustainability of local areas, Swizzels is not only celebrating its own heritage, but also fostering the health and vibrancy of its customer base’s environments.
Community organisers, charities, youth groups and other collectives across the country are now encouraged to consider how a £1,000 injection could advance their missions. Entries close at 11:59pm on 30 June, offering a brief but valuable opportunity to secure much-needed resources at a grassroots level.
This nationwide effort arrives at a challenging time for community organisations faced with rising costs and squeezed local budgets, making the prospect of winning even modest funding highly appealing. As such, Swizzels has tapped into a widespread appetite for community-led change—and the hope is that, just as the iconic Refreshers have been a source of small joys for decades, The Great Community Refresh will help distribute smiles well beyond the sweet shop.