About us

What we do

At the heart of Free Cakes for Kids Hackney are individual birthday cakes. Put simply, we match families in need and passionate home bakers. We work with local organisations in Hackney that work with children and families, who make referrals to our service.

The cakes are made by local volunteers, who also pay for the ingredients themselves. While most Free Cakes for Kids Hackney volunteers are amateurs, they enjoy baking and decorating impressive cakes that often accommodate the child’s favourite theme or style. Recent examples include a princess cake, a volcano cake, car shaped cakes or the ever-popular football cakes. Check out our gallery to see a selection of the cakes we’ve baked so far.

Who we are

Free Cakes for Kids Hackney was founded by Sophie Howes and Julia Bleet in August 2011. Since then the group has gone from strength to strength, with over 100 bakers and a team of committed volunteers who support the organisation’s work. Free Cakes for Kids Hackney is part of the Free Cakes for Kids UK network. Find out more about the UK network of Free Cakes for Kids groups here.

Isla Simpson-Sedgwick

Community Liaison and Finance Officer

Isla joined Free Cakes For Kids Hackney in 2014 as a baker. She took over as joint coordinator and community liaison for the account with Catalina in 2016 and became finance officer at the start of 2017. She is a Hackney local and works as Special Needs Teacher.

Email me: finance@freecakesforkidshackney.co.uk

Catalina Hoyos

Community Liaison Officer

Catalina joined FCFK Hackney in 2016 as our Community Liaison Officer. Originally from Colombia, she fell in love with London and joined FCFK Hackney as a way to give something back and do what she love most, baking! As well as baking and helping match all our requests with bakers, Catalina loves her 9 to 5 job in architecture.

Email me: hello@freecakesforkidshackney.co.uk

Katy McClelland

Events Officer

Katy started as a volunteer baker in late 2014 then joined the committee as Events Officer in summer 2015. By day working as a food writer and stylist, there’s never a dull baking moment.

Email me: events@freecakesforkidshackney.co.uk

9 thoughts on “About us”

  1. Marie Kerrigan

    We have always been thrilled with the cakes baked for Morningside Children’s and Parents’ Centre. The cakes are always unique and very much appreciated. In fact 65 families shared one on Saturday 20th october at a Family Learning festival. Thank you.
    Also really enjoyed yor first birthday party on 24th October, so lovely to meet the bakers!

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    • freecakesforkidshackney

      Hi Mirjan,
      Our aims and objectives are very simple really: to provide children in Hackney with birthday cakes who – due to difficult circumstances – would otherwise go without. It’s not life-changing stuff but things like getting a (homemade, personalised) cake on your birthday really matter to children and, in many circumstances, it takes the burden off their family.

  6. Gareth Prosser

    Thank you so much for making such a beautiful cake. You made a one little girl very happy putting a big smile on her face…. From Comet Nursery School and Children’s Centre

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