A charity fund aimed at helping to improve the oral health of poor area across the UK has been launched.
The British Dental Health Foundation, in association with Wrigley, is inviting bids from oral health education teams across the UK to access a new charitable fund to help boost their important work, especially in disadvantaged communities.
The Oral Health Education Project forms part of the Foundation’s 40th anniversary celebrations later this year and Wrigley’s own centenary celebrations in 2011.
The project combines the expertise of the British Dental Health Foundation, with a generous charitable donation of £100,000 from the Wrigley Tooth Fairy Fund.
The project has been announced as this year’s National Smile Month campaign – organised by the British Dental Health Foundation – which was launched yesterday at the House of Commons.
Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said: ‘Both the Foundation and Wrigley are celebrating major milestones this year and we wanted to mark the occasion with a new and significant project to boost oral health.
‘With the generous support of Wrigley, we have been able to establish this fund to help support the crucial work that oral health educators undertake, especially in disadvantaged communities and regions of known poor oral health.
‘The fund is good news, especially in a period when oral health education is likely to be affected by the slow-down in public spending.
‘We are inviting oral health teams from across the UK to bid for money, with projects set to commence later this year in August. We’ll also be working closely with our partners to share some of the successes and good practice developed,’ said Dr Carter.
Siân O’Keefe, senior manager of corporate affairs, said: ‘As part of our centenary here at Wrigley, we wanted to make a donation that could really make a difference. By working with the British Dental Health Foundation, we are helping them to continue the incredible work that they do, and we hope the Tooth Fairy Fund will drive improved access to good oral healthcare and education.’
