Finnebrogue’s long-standing relationship with Cancer Fund for Children has evolved far beyond traditional charity support—growing into a meaningful partnership rooted in mentorship and a shared vision for social impact.
For many years, Finnebrogue has proudly supported Cancer Fund for Children and their Daisy Lodge facility in Newcastle, County Down, which provides therapeutic short breaks to families navigating the challenges of childhood cancer. Their support has ranged from regular donations of surplus food to vital sponsorships that help sustain the charity’s services and offer much-needed respite to children and young people.
In recognition of the incredible work carried out by the charity, Finnebrogue employees nominated Cancer Fund for Children as their Charity of the Year for 2024/25.
This year also marked a new chapter in the relationship—one that goes beyond donations. Finnebrogue has embarked on a business-to-charity mentoring partnership focused on sustainability, sharing its industry expertise to help Cancer Fund for Children embed sustainable practices across its operations.
The journey began when Cancer Fund for Children’s Corinna Decodts reached out to Finnebrogue, seeking direction on how to begin improving sustainability across the charity. Unsure where or how to start, Corinna and her colleague David were invited by Finnebrogue’s sustainability team, Paul Andrews and Sam Turner for a two-hour workshop on-site. The session covered how to build a sustainability strategy, conduct a materiality assessment, and measure key environmental impacts—such as energy, waste, water use, and carbon emissions.
From that point, momentum quickly built. Cancer Fund for Children have since implemented improvements to energy efficiency at their existing facilities and designed their new Daisy Lodge site, located in County Mayo, with low environmental impact in mind.
The guidance provided by Finnebrogue has helped the charity shape tangible sustainability goals and develop a roadmap for future progress.
“It’s purely coincidental that we schedule our sustainability catchups at noon,” joked Corinna Decodts, Facilities Manager at Cancer Fund for Children, “when it aligns with lunchtime at Finnebrogue’s rooftop staff restaurant.” But behind the humour lies a deep appreciation for the value this partnership brings.
A standout success from this mentoring relationship was the placement of Queen’s University Belfast MSc student Ciara Conlan. When Ciara approached Finnebrogue for a placement opportunity, the timing didn’t align—but her background in healthcare and sustainability made her a perfect fit for Cancer Fund for Children. With Finnebrogue’s encouragement, Ciara joined the charity for an eight-week placement, where she not only completed her academic research project—exploring barriers to sustainability in healthcare and charitable organisations—but also delivered a tailored internal report outlining practical recommendations for Cancer Fund for Children to become a more sustainable organisation.
Her insights proved invaluable. In May, Ciara and members of the Cancer Fund for Children team returned to Finnebrogue to present her findings. Paul and Sam reviewed the recommendations and provided further feedback to help shape the charity’s sustainability direction.
Thanks to Ciara’s work—and Finnebrogue’s continued guidance—the charity now has a clear strategy to advance its sustainability goals in the months and years ahead.
And the partnership continues to grow. This October, Paul and Sam will visit Daisy Lodge to deliver a focused sustainability workshop for Cancer Fund for Children’s senior management team, helping further embed environmental considerations into everyday decision-making.
Commenting on the relationship, Cancer Fund for Children’s Corinna Decodts said:
“Cancer Fund for Children are incredibly grateful to Finnebrogue for their generous support in advancing our sustainability efforts.”
“Their partnership empowers us to create lasting environmental and social impact, helping us build a more resilient future. Partnerships like this remind us, we’re not alone—real change happens when we work together.”
Paul Andrews also reflected on the importance of business-led mentorship:
“At Finnebrogue, we’re proud not just to lead in sustainable food production—but to support others in their sustainability journeys too. Through mentorship, partnership, and passion, we’re helping to raise the bar for social and environmental impact across industries.”
This deepening relationship is proof that when expertise is shared, and people are united by purpose, the impact can be truly transformative—for charities, for communities, and for the future.
Pictured above left to right: Paul Andrews, Head of Sustainability, Finnebrogue; Joan Burden, Hospitality Manager, Cancer Fund for Children; Sam Turner, Sustainability Executive, Finnebrogue; Corinna Decodts, Facilities Manager, Cancer Fund for Children; Olivia McAleese, Student on the Denis Lynn Scholarship Programme; Ciara Conlon, Student, Queen’s University Belfast / Cancer Fund for Children.
