The group baking free children’s cakes with compassion

• What is Free Cakes for Kids?

It is a national initiative that helps communities by baking birthday cakes for children. The UK organisation has been running since 2008 and works as a caring community of volunteers who bake cakes in their own kitchens.

• How did you come to set up the service locally?

I launched the Littlehampton group last September. I’m a mum of four; two older children who are now 17 and 22 and also four-and-a-half-year-old twins, but my background is in education as a learning support assistant. The initial set up was a fairly long process and as team leader I had to create policies. My background in schools was useful as I knew my way around policies. I had to register with Arun District Council and, as the main baker, I had to obtain a food hygiene certificates. My volunteers just need to follow the guidelines. My group is in Littlehampton, but I am looking to recruit bakers in the Bognor Regis area so that we can offer cakes to families in and around Bognor.

• How do you find out about children who might need a birthday cake?

We work with third parties like schools and organisations like My Sister’s House in Bognor Regis. My Sister’s House is such a remarkable operation. The children referred to us might be young carers, from families in financial difficulty, or they might be part of a family where someone has a terminal illness. There are no specific criteria; it’s just cakes with compassion for any child that might appreciate receiving a birthday cake at a tough time.

• Do the children get a say in the design of a cake?

Yes, we often ask the child to draw a picture of the cake they would like and then we do our best to bring their drawing to life, which is a really fun challenge. We have to enquire about dietary information, but we are all self-taught home bakers – we don’t have any professional skills. But we have made some pretty amazing cakes!

• What should people interested in helping in the Bognor area do?

Contact me at [email protected] – I’m looking for men and women who are good home bakers – you don’t need to be Mary Berry! I’m also hoping to contact Bognor-based schools so that we can support more children.

• Do you get to see the children receive their cakes?

We don’t often see the impact as the third party would be part of the delivery process, but just knowing that we have done something to cheer up a child is wonderful. The first one I did was for My Sister’s House and all day I was smiling. It was so heart-warming.

• What is your signature bake?

I have done lots of chocolate cakes. Luckily I’m not a big cake lover, which is just as well!

• For further information about Free Cakes for Kids please make contact via Facebook: www.facebook.com/freecakesforkids.bognor

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