Sweet Support: Eat My Cake Charities

As our 'Eat My Cake' campaign comes to an end and the judging kicks off, we’d like to highlight the amazing charities chosen by our bakers! Each baker was tasked with creating a cake that represents their selected charity, with a chance to win £500 for the winner and £100 for the two runners-up.

Here are the three charities involved:

Crystelle selected ‘Help a Poor Child’

Frances chose ‘The Big Draw’

Natalie picked ‘Big C’

Each baker poured their heart into their choice, beautifully representing causes that mean so much to them. If you’re not already familiar with these charities, we’re excited to introduce them. Their missions are not only close to our bakers' hearts but also touch on important issues that we’re sure many of us deeply care about.

Help A Poor Child 

Help A Poor Child is a volunteer-led charity focused on supporting children and families living in extreme poverty in Asia and Africa. Founded in 1980, the organisation offers critical aid through education, family support and healthcare programmes. They work with children who face unimaginable hardships—such as lack of food, healthcare and education —providing them with hope and a path to a better future.

 

In addition to its core projects, Help A Poor Child seizes opportunities to make a significant difference. For example, encouraging education and helping those who had abandoned their studies to resume them. They also identify children with severe disabilities, providing wheelchairs to enhance their mobility and improve their quality of life.

The charity also addresses critical social issues, such as the prevention of child abuse, particularly in regions where child marriages and abuse are alarmingly common. Help A Poor Child organises educational programmes in partnership with local councils to raise awareness among children and adults about the dangers of abuse, the importance of reporting it, and the social responsibility of the community to protect vulnerable children. Through these efforts, the charity continues to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of those it serves.

The Big Draw

The Big Draw is a trailblazing visual literacy charity, founded in 2000 by the Guild of St George, with a mission to make creativity accessible to everyone. The charity champions drawing as a powerful tool for learning, wellbeing, and cultural connection, using a range of resources, advocacy, and collaborative projects to promote creativity as a universal language.

 

Central to The Big Draw’s mission is the encouragement of creative expression, ensuring that artistic opportunities are open to all, and highlighting the positive impact of drawing on mental, emotional, and physical health. The charity brings together people from all backgrounds—whether artists, educators, or scientists—to explore the role of drawing in different fields.

Since launching the world’s largest drawing event, The Big Draw Festival, the charity has inspired over four million people worldwide and holds two World Records. The annual festival features a wide range of creative events and workshops across the globe, organised by everyone from individual creators to entire cities.

In addition to the festival, The Big Draw conducts research, hosts educational conferences, and supports artists through initiatives like The John Ruskin Prize. Their work bridges creativity with wellbeing, technology, and social change, continuously exploring new possibilities for drawing. The Big Draw is not just a festival - it's a global movement.

 Big C Cancer Charity

Big C was initiated to address the genuine need for local cancer care in Norfolk. The founders, David Moar MBE and Clive Bamford, were battling cancer themselves and faced the harsh reality of having no local care available, forcing them to travel to London and Cambridge. Determined to make a difference, they pledged to bring world-class cancer care closer to home in Norfolk.

As a regional cancer charity, Big C is here to support anyone in Norfolk and surrounding counties affected by cancer, from diagnosis and treatment through to life beyond cancer. We support anyone that needs us including those with a cancer diagnosis, their family and loved ones. Big C provides outstanding holistic support, aiming to improve lives through services at the charity’s warm and welcoming Support Centres and Hubs. Alternatively, support is offered via video chat or by telephone through Big C’s Virtual Support Centre. All services are free of charge, including person-centred counselling, complementary treatments, group support, welfare guidance, exercise and nutrition programmes and bereavement support. A friendly welcome and listening ear are guaranteed at Big C.

Founded in Norfolk over 40 years ago, Big C has raised over £45 million to fund its growing services. The charity greatly benefits from the donations raised by its loyal community supporters, local businesses, legacies and grants from community funds and trusts. Income is also generated via 11 charity shops across the region. Big C is proud to invest in ground-breaking projects that take place at the Norwich Research Park. Carried out by leading scientists in their field, the research is making a local, national and international difference in the fight against cancer, now and for the future.

Big C's mission continues to transform cancer care, ensuring that those facing this disease receive the support they need right in their own community.

ring that those facing this disease receive the support they need right in their own community.