Yesterday I saw something that upset me very much - a young mum carrying a baby outside Waitrose was surrounded by big security guards on their walkie talkies, all very sternly saying, “this isn’t paid for, this isn’t paid for, this isn’t paid for” and she was desperately going through the stuff she needed, having, what seemed to me, been caught out shop lifting some items. I only had a peek at some of the stuff and it was baby formula, nappies, cans of food etc. Thinking about it ever since, I still feel awful that I felt intimidated by the scene at the time and was also stressed by a fussy X-ray and didn’t go over and offer to help ☹️. Of course, I don’t know anything about the circumstances, whether she was a repeat offender, or what led her to that state of desperation where she had to shop lift essentials for her baby, and anyone is well within their right to feel as cynical or compassionate about it.

It’s however made me think lots about how I could’ve acted in hindsight, with the very little info I had in the moment. And it’s also made me look into what help is already out there that can be accessed by mums and families struggling with babies. I’ve now discovered food banks run by The Trussell Trust (Registered Charity No. 1110522) - they offer not just food but essentials such as nappies, personal hygiene, baby food etc too. 

So here is where I’d really like to help out more. Each week we generally create a new cake design or product like the Fat Unicorn Cake for our cake collection, or I create a new recipe, like our vegan drip cake for the blog, and we either end up eating way too much cake, or we bin them (we already donate cakes to our nearest hospitals’ children’s wards on a fairly regular basis), which seems a shame. I’d love to auction the cake and try and raise as much as possible and donate 100% of the money raised for the cake to The Trussell Trust - not part of the proceeds, or the “profits”, but straight up allll of the money for the cake. So in effect I’ll be making the cake (or cupcakes, or loaf cakes, or who knows, even a croquembouche!) with our awesome ingredients, taking the pics, sharing on Instagram and setting a base starting auction price of £15, and delivering it to the highest bidder (in London!) - of course I’d love to raise as much money as possible but even if we get £15 raised each week then that’s £15 towards helping a struggling parent and child. And again, it’s not donating the “profits”, it’s donating every penny received for the cake.

I know I could just donate my own cold hard cash, but 1) I’ll be bate, it wouldn’t be much, 2) It would be better to donate cash raised via the cake as opposed to just donating the cake each time cuz...well, can’t pay for nappies with cake innit, 3) I hope this spreads some awareness on what help is available out there for anyone who may find themselves in tough times. 

So I’m taking the plunge - I know I don’t have that big a following or that large a reach that could make serious ripples in the ocean, and I may end up embarrassingly not getting even 1 bid and the husband will feel obliged to open up 15 fake accounts and bid the minimum £15 just cuz he weirdly loves me and wants my face saved but if I don’t try I certainly won’t get anywhere. I really hope you guys come on board on the cause - Cake is Cake after all! And I promise it’ll be good, you only have to look at the new Fat Unicorn Cake, the Vegan Ice Cream Drip Cake or even the mini loaf cakes to see the kind of stuff that’s going to go on auction, and it’s very likely to be an absolute steal whilst going to a good cause like the Trussell Trust food bank.

I’m excited, nervous and very anxious to gooooo! :)

Lots of love,

Reshmi