About 5 years ago, I saw an advert in a tube station for a charity called Contact the Elderly. It said something along the lines of “Like cake? We need you!”. They had me right there.
You know me, I love cake. I mean, I really love cake. Baking has always been an antidote to any stress or worry in my life. A kind of meditation I suppose. The weighing and mixing and measuring. There’s no space in my mind to fit in anything else when I’m cooking.
Then it’s followed by the act of giving that cake away and sharing it. It says, “I care enough about you to have spent time thinking about you and making this for you” (or sometimes “please eat some with me so I don’t eat it all” Just me? Oh okay then..)
Contact the Elderly bring together groups of isolated older people, often people without any family living close by, or perhaps any family at all. The local groups meet one Sunday a month at the home of a tea party host. Volunteer drivers collect the guests and stay to share tea, cake and chitchat.
Many of the guests aren’t able to get out and about on their own any more, so meeting with friends (old and new) for just one afternoon a month makes a huge difference to their lives.
When I first saw that advert for the charity we had a lot going on in our lives and I like to think that it came at the perfect time to remind me not to be quite so absorbed in my own worries and sadness. Now, the twice yearly tea parties are part of our lives and we enjoy them so much.
I lost all of my grandparents very early in my life and so it’s particularly special to spend time with these ladies that have so much wisdom and fun to share. They make us laugh and surprise us each visit, with tales of Birmingham in the 50’s or of long forgotten local cakes.
This week Sylvia and Shelia were telling me about how they’d returned to work after having children, which was almost unheard of in those days. These ladies are an inspiration to me as a juggling Mum today. It turns out that mothers were consumed with the guilt of difficult decisions in exactly the same as we are now. Who knew?
They’ve opened my eyes to a whole generation that I’ve never really been lucky enough to have in my life.
The menu for this party was:
~
Finger Sandwiches
Quiche Lorraine
Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam
Victoria Sponge Cupcake
Mini Pavlovas
Raisin & Honey Low Sugar Loaf
Giant Golden Chocolate and Caramel Layer Cake
~
If you’re interested in volunteering as a host or a driver, please have a look at the website here: Contact the Elderly. There are groups all over the country and they would love to hear from you.
Sarah x
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Jo of Jo's Kitchen says
What an amazing idea Sarah. It looks so lovely. I am sure they all appreciated the hard work, you had put into it. Can I gate crash the next one? xx
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
This is such a lovely thing to do 🙂 definitely going to look into it. If only I could bake…
Sarah Maison Cupcake says
What a lovely initiative – I bet they think your cakes are the bees’ knees 😀
Jacqueline Meldrum says
A really lovely thing to do Sarah and a great menu too.
MumReinvented says
That is such a lovely thing to do and if/when we move back to the UK I’ll definitely volunteer myself. I think I may even pass the details on to friends and family and harass them into doing it. My grandad is on his own after my nan passed away a month or so ago and it may well be something he might be interested in. Those cakes look amazing by the way!
HonestMum says
Just gorgeous and what a menu you are clever. This post funnily enough reminds me of a very different scenario at a Cypriot elderly home I visited for their Christmas party years ago in London, to help serve food and have general fun. It was pretty hilarious as 10 minutes in, a near naked belly dancer arrived, faux sword in hands (still not sure what that was about), the elderly men were on their feet (I was worried for their tickers), the women clapping, gorgeous Greek food consumed, whisky drunk, so much laughter my face ached and all in all was quite the party. Like I said, a little bit different to this beautiful shindig but amazing all the same. Loved this post x
Steph @MisplacedBrit says
LOVE this! What an absolutely beautiful idea, and when it’s connecting people who LOVE baking as well those afternoon teas are going to be huge hits!! No packet biscuits here!! 😉
I really love how special this will have been for everyone there. Such a fantastic initiative and wonderful advert for it too <3
I'm really not sure there's anything like this in Sweden …I'll have to check! What I know that there are is loads of newly arrived expats not having a clue how to get there foot in the home of a Swede …Maybe that's a variation!
brummymummyof2 says
It’s such a lovely lovely thing to do bab and I love the fact your kiddos are learning such fantastic life lesson and I hope they carry it on when they are all big and grown. SOB! x
Hannah Webster says
This is such an amazing idea! It’s so sad to think some people could be just on their own all the time, old or young, I think it’s a shame we don’t do more with our communities now. We can learn so much by talking to other generations too.
You’re definitely not the only one that has to invite people over for cake just to stop you eating it all, I regularly bake too much and have to call friends over to help, or am the only reason our party of 8 or 9 will have to stay at a restaurant for desserts!
Isabella says
What a lovely post, so heartwarming! And the cakes look seriously delicious too, what a lovely event!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
Sarah, this is so wonderful! I am going to tweet this post right this minute!
Becky | Spirited Puddle Jumper says
Sarah, this is amazing! What a fantastic thing to do 🙂 Once my house is sorted and wedding out of the way, I am SO enquiring about hosting one of these, seriously- interesting older people with tales to tell and cake- what’s not to love?! x