Mitchells & Butlers operates a number of charitable donations schemes to actively encourage our employees to get involved with national and local charities as well as worthy local causes within their immediate communities.

Employee donations

Any employee can apply for a charitable donation from Mitchells & Butlers to go towards a personal charity event they are taking part in or organising. Last year, we donated £25,000 to a wide range of charities including MS Society, CLIC Sargent and the British Heart Foundation.

Good Cause Fund

The Good Cause fund was set up in 2012. Our retail employees can apply for a donation towards a community or charity event they are taking part in. Last year, Mitchells & Butlers donated £15,650 to worthy causes such as Ciaran's Cause, a charity supported by the Toby Carvery in Warrington whose aim is to provide defibrillators in all 69 local primary schools.

Princes Trust

We are two years into a three year programme supporting the Prince's Trust. This year, Mitchells & Butlers donated £15,000 to the Prince's Trust. Also a team of eight employees participated in Million Makers - a fundraising initiative where teams compete to raise as much money as possible, by January 2013.

Supporting England and Great Britain Hockey

We are also two years into a three year sponsorship deal worth £90,000 as an official partner of England and Great Britain Hockey, with Harvester having become their official restaurant partner.

Our brands' great fundraising activities

Collectively our brands have donated thousands of pounds this year to charity, continuing to demonstrate outstanding charitable giving. Although, many more events were held across our restaurants and pubs raising money for charities, here are some of the highlights:

• As part of its St Patrick's Day celebrations, O'Neill's Irish-jigged its way from Aberdeen to Bournemouth and all the pubs in between and raised over £45,000 for Cash for Kids.
• Harvester donated 25 pence from every special Chocolate Star Ice Cream Sundae sold to Make-A-Wish^® Foundation UK. The brand donated a total of £38,268. Harvester has raised more than £200,000 for the charity, which is the organisation's chosen charity, over the last five years.
• According to official figures, 22% of all nurses in the UK missed out on precious time spent with friends and families to look after those in need. In January 2012, Crown Carveries launched a public campaign to reward the dedication and expertise of these unsung heroes. Nearly 7,000 nursing staff took the brand up on its offer of a free meal.

To read more about our support for the local community, get a copy of our Social Responsibility Review.