Great British Bake Off inspires millions to fundraise with charity bake sales
Howard Lake | 5 August 2015 | News
The BBC’s Great British Bake Off series has brought an unexpected benefit to charities across the country, as it has inspired millions to fundraise through charity bake sales.
The rise in charity bake sales was uncovered by research for Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). A public opinion poll by Populus on behalf of the charity found that in the past 12 months:
• bake sales in Great Britain had raised an estimated £185 million for charity
• nearly six million people took part in a charity bake sale
• almost four million people have baked for charity (8%), while nearly 15 million have bought food from a charity bake sale (30%)
• on average people spent £12 in fundraising bake sales
• baking for charity is most popular among 25 to 34 year olds: 13% of them say they have baked for a good cause in the past 12 months.
• the people most likely to have bought from a charity bake sale live in Yorkshire and Humber: 45% of them have done so, compared to 21% of people in Scotland and Eastern England.
• enjoyment is at the core of fundraising cake sales: 63% of those surveyed said that raising money for charity is a good reason to do something they enjoy
• 20% of people agree that cake tastes better when it has been baked for a good cause.
The Great British Bake Off certainly attracts large numbers of viewers: 12.3 million viewers watched the final in 2014 to see Nancy Birtwhistle crowned as the winner.
The Great British Bake Off returns to BBC tonight for its sixth series. Image: BBC/Love Productions/Mark Bourdillon
Charity cake events
Of course, charities across the UK have been raising funds from bake sales and coffee mornings for long before Bake Off appeared on screens. In 2014 the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning by Macmillan Cancer Support raised a record-breaking £25 million. In addition, bake sales by Marie Curie Cancer Care, Great Ormond Street Hospital, children’s medical research charity Sparks and Help For Heroes have also raised substantial sums.
CAF’s Chief Executive John Low said:
“It is great to see that the success of Great British Bake Off has not only whipped up enthusiasm for baking but that so many people are folding in the opportunity to ‘self-raise’ money for charities.”
“As well as being a nation with a sweet tooth, we have a proud track record of supporting good causes. Through participation in bake sales and bake-offs, the Great British public have once again revealed their huge generosity and support for the work of our Great British charities.”Advertisement
[message_box title=”About the poll” color=”blue”]Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,031 adults aged 18+ online between 24 and 26 July 2015. Interviews were conducted across Great Britain and the results have been weighted to be representative of all British adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.[/message_box]
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.