Surprising Stories from the Older Generation Smash Stereotypes in Cadbury Dairy Milk Ad

A new film from Cadbury Dairy Milk captures some of the unexpected stories the older generation can share with us and inspires the nation to do the same. Don’t ask about the weather or what someone had for dinner – ask an older person you know about all their adventures.

As part of the next phase of the hugely successful ‘Donate your words’ collaboration with Age UK, the new campaign continues to share Cadbury’s belief that everyone has a glass and a half of generosity within them and encourages the public to act upon it.

Last year, prompted by the shocking fact that 225,000 older people often go a whole week without speaking to anyone, thousands of people took time to have a conversation with an older person. This time, the campaign’s new film celebrates what happens when you take the time to stop and listen.

Cadbury wants to keep shining a light on those generous moments that are happening every day, in all walks of life. In a world that has changed for so many this year, they have also continued to support their partner Age UK, to help the charity be there for older people most in need throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Titled 'The Originals', this new phase of the campaign asks the audience to take the time to chat and listen to the older people in their lives and perhaps even learn something they didn’t know about them before. The pandemic continues to be a period of great anxiety and fear for most people, especially millions of older people - with loneliness and social isolation taking its toll more than ever before. With so much more uncertainty ahead there’s never been a time when conversation and friendship has been more important for older people.

The 80” film aims to motivate the nation to donate their words and have a meaningful conversation with an older person, not only to help tackle potential loneliness but also to find out more about their lives and the surprising stories they might have to share.

The film will run across Sky Cinema, social and digital channels alongside a series of 15” and 6” assets that form part of a comprehensive digital and social campaign. The media planning and buying has been undertaken by Carat and PR handled by Golin.

Claudia Miceli, SBM at Cadbury, said: “We are really proud of our partnership with Age UK and the inspiring and moving films we have developed to support our Donate Your Words campaign. This latest film really celebrates the older people in our lives and encourages us to speak to them to discover the incredible and surprising things they have achieved and lived through. We know that this year due to Covid-19, older people have been more socially isolated than ever but, in amongst all the worry, we wanted to strike a positive note and celebrate them – this film does just that.”

Fundraising director at Age UK, Laurie Boult, added: “We’re so proud to be working with Cadbury again on this new phase of Donate Your Words. We hope it encourages everybody to have a proper conversation with older people in their lives, and to really listen to what they have to say. Every older person has stories to tell about their life and if we take the time to ask about their experiences we could all be inspired, surprised, moved – and learn something too. The impact of the pandemic will last for a very long time for many older people. At Age UK we are doing everything we can to help those most in need through the coming weeks and months. And we really hope this campaign will help to raise awareness of the heart-breaking issue of loneliness, remind everyone how valuable older people are to our society and inspire the public to help make a difference.”

Darren Bailes, VCCP ECD, commented: “Last year we asked people to talk, this year we’d like them to listen. The truth about older people is they don’t need tiptoeing around. They’ve been there and done that, so they’ve got some amazing experiences - our new film is all about encouraging the nation to donate their words and seek them out.”