Edinburgh, Raise Some Dough and entertain the kids this Easter

Bake Off’s Giuseppe Dell’Anno and school feeding charity Mary’s Meals have the perfect recipe for holiday family fun

Looking for a way to entertain the kids this Easter? School feeding charity Mary’s Meals and Great British Bake Off star, Giuseppe Dell’Anno have the perfect idea! They are calling on people in Edinburgh to hold a bake sale and Raise Some Dough for hungry children this Easter.

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals in 18 of the world’s poorest countries – including Malawi, Syria and Haiti. The promise of food attracts children into the classroom, where they can gain an education and hope for the future.

Giuseppe, Great British Bake Off winner in 2021, says: “Mary’s Meals tackles two major needs for kids’ welfare at once: nutrition and education. Many of us take things like school and food for granted, but there are places in the world where they are completely out of reach.

“A bake sale is a great way to have fun in the Easter holidays and raise funds to help this incredible charity reach the next child waiting for Mary’s Meals.

“You’d be surprised how far a very simple biscuit, baked with your cupboard essentials, can go. Especially if shared with a smile! I hope you’ll join me to Raise Some Dough this Easter for hungry children!”

People in Edinburgh can download a free fundraising pack from the charity’s website, which includes a recipe book packed full of tasty biscuit recipes from some of the UK’s favourite celebrities – including Giuseppe, Stephen Fry, Dame Joanna Lumley and Strictly Come Dancing star Ellie Taylor.

The charity will even send bakers a special mug-shaped cookie cutter, based on the mugs from which many children eat their daily serving of Mary’s Meals.

Dan McNally, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, says: “If you’re looking for something to keep the family entertained this Easter, our Raise Some Dough fundraising pack has everything you ‘knead’ to hold a bake sale for friends and family and raise funds for children in some of the world’s poorest communities.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a star baker like Giuseppe, or a budding baker – we’d love for you to get involved and help us reach more hungry children with Mary’s Meals.”

To order your free Raise Some Dough fundraising pack, please visit:

 marysmeals.org.uk/raise

Purrs of delight! Pawsome Afternoon Tea returns to a table near you

There will be biscuits, cakes and tea by the pot this August as Cats Protection’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea returns to raise cash for needy kitties near you.

The popular fundraising celebration provides cat-lovers with the opportunity to host an afternoon tea in a style of their choosing to raise money for the Cats Protection centre or volunteer-run branch of their choice.

This year’s tea will take place throughout August to enable people to meet outdoors or indoors if they wish, while following the latest government guidelines.

Abi Young, organiser of Cats Protection’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea, explains: “You could hold a tea party at home, a bake sale for your office, or enjoy a picnic outdoors – the choice is yours.

“We have some great tutorials online if you’d like to bake your own cat-shaped treats but whether you bake or buy your delicious goodies to share, every slice you sell helps give down-on-their-luck moggies a second chance.

“Each penny donated makes a big difference, for example £20 raised will feed four cats in care for 25 days, £50 will provide eight tiny kittens with milk for 14 days or £110 will pay for an x-ray for an injured cat. Our branches and centres couldn’t help unwanted cats and kittens without the kindness of our wonderful supporters baking and brewing to keep them on their paws.”

Videos showing how to make a variety of kitty bakes can be found here:

Purrfect pawprint cupcakes – https://youtu.be/sXg6gTMIlRk

Cat-face biscuits – https://youtu.be/sXg6gTMIlRk

Cat-face cupcakes – https://youtu.be/AYJKhPPM07U

Catty-dodger biscuits – https://youtu.be/sXg6gTMIlRk

To find more information about your nearest Cats Protection branch or centre visit www.cats.org.uk/find-us and to take part in this year’s Pawsome Afternoon Tea you can register your tea at www.pawsometea.org and receive top-tips as well as a party pack filled with everything you need to ensure your sale is a great success.

All pictures: Cats Protection