Presentation Schedule
Cadbury’s Corporate Philanthropy in the Great Depression: Contributions to Workers’ Education (95608)
Session Chair: Jajuan Johnson
This presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom (Online Access)
Monday, 14 July 2025 09:50
Session: Session 2
Room: Live-Stream Room 2
Presentation Type:Live-Stream Presentation
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Founded in Birmingham, England, Cadbury is renowned not only for its chocolate business but also for its enduring commitment to social responsibility. Among its many philanthropic initiatives, one of the most significant was its support for adult education. This paper focuses on Fircroft College, a residential workers’ college established by the Cadbury family in 1909, and examines its role during the economic crisis of the 1930s. Fircroft was part of the Selly Oak Colleges—a group of institutions backed by the Cadbury family as part of their broader educational vision. Its founding was influenced by the Scandinavian folkehøjskole tradition, a respected model of residential adult education in Northern Europe. The college offered not only academic instruction but also a holistic environment that fostered community, reflection, and civic responsibility. By the present day, Fircroft has gradually evolved from its original folkehøjskole-inspired model into an institution that nurtured leadership for social and political engagement and provided access to higher education. Through close analysis of primary sources including The Fircroft Year between 1932 and 1938, and articles from contemporary British newspapers—this study explores how Fircroft supported the education and development of working-class individuals during a time of national uncertainty. This research not only reveals how this Nordic-style residential college empowered workers in a period of crisis, but also offers historical insights into the legacy of corporate philanthropy and raises contemporary questions about the role of business in adult education and ethical leadership.
Authors:
Sachiko Morita, Utsunomiya University, Japan
About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Sachiko Morita is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Data Science and Management at Utsunomiya University, Japan.
See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule
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