At the heart of Free Cakes for Kids Bristol are personalised, home-made birthday cakes. Put simply, we match two parties: families in need and passionate home-bakers. The cakes are made by local volunteers, who also pay for the ingredients themselves. While most Free Cakes for Kids volunteers are amateurs, they enjoy baking and decorating cakes and can accommodate the child’s favourite theme or style.

​Families can refer themselves or are referred to by partner organisations.  We have built strong networks in our local community and work closely with organisations like the Young Carers, foodbanks and social services.  Sometimes we also bake cakes for other occaisions when there is deemed to be a real need, for example we have baked a 'Get Well Soon' cake for a mum from her children.   

But what difference does a cake make?

Everybody likes cake, but birthday cakes are something special.  There are many reasons why a single cake can make a big difference:
  • Having a cake made especially for you can make you feel special and appreciated.
  • You have something to share with your family and friends, so they come over for a party.
  • Bakers and families work together to a common goal by getting in touch, checking for food allergies and arranging a hand-over.
  • We get to work within our communities and have become integral parts of the social infrastructure.
 
In other  words, there are many ways to make a difference – one cake at a time.

Where did Free Cakes For Kids come from?

The first Free Cakes for Kids group in the UK was founded in December 2008.  Having read about a similar project in the U.S., Henriette Lundgren adapted the model to her local community and set up the first Free Cakes for Kids group in Oxford. Since then the group has grown steadily and helped many others start their own community groups. 

Over the years the network of Free Cakes for Kids groups has grown and spread throughout the U.K. They are now active in more than 40 communities across the UK, including Bicester, Cardiff, Sutton, Hackney, Newcastle, North Leeds, Wallingford, Milton Keynes and Ballymena.  This particular group serves our community in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
 
Responding to the growing number of inquiries for information and support, the Free Cakes for Kids UK Network is currently being established as a collaborative effort. While every group is responsible for its own activities, we all operate under the same name.  The network therefore supports local coordinators through mentoring and meetings, ensuring our key values of safety, confidentiality and community spirit.

At the moment, the Free Cakes for Kids UK Network does not have funding of its own and relies 100% on the time and energy of volunteers.