A number of generous bakers are delivering free birthday cakes to those who would not otherwise be celebrating.

They believe everyone deserves to feel special at least once a year.

Despite the group's name, Free Cakes for Kids Tonbridge supports a whole mix of people, from children in care to women in refuge.

Since Salli Thwaite set up in June 2015, her and other volunteers have baked more than 800 cakes.

In 2018, they whisked, stirred and iced a record number of 297.

The Hildenborough cake-maker said: "I love what we do. We make cakes for a lot of elderly people who really have no one and older teenagers who have had troubled lives and never celebrated their birthday."

She has recruited a wide range of pastry-lovers including young mums, students and teenagers completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award. She currently has a team of more than 60.

"It is perfect for people who love the creativity of baking but do not want to eat all their cakes. Each cake is so unique and every time you make another one it gets a bit better."

The group, part of the nationwide organisation Free Cakes For Kids UK, covers Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.

Mrs Thwaite, 59, started volunteering with Demelza house when she had her children, then in the local libraries and on Tunbridge Wells NHS stroke unit.

She started up a branch of Free Cakes For Kids after her daughter, Alice, heard about it and told her mum, who was already an avid cake-maker.

She added: "We have never let anyone down with a cake.

"Recently we heard that a 16 year old girl had been thrilled with her cake as she’d been having a rough time of it and the cake was a fantastic reminder that people care."

Whoever makes the cake also delivers it and so a special bond can be made between the baker and recipient.

Mrs Thwaite said how touching the response can be.

Organisations such as shelters and support groups put names forward of those they feel would benefit from this heartfelt gesture.

The group are always looking for new members, so if you can rustle up a Victoria sponge or are quite handy with fondant flowers email freecakesforkidstonbridge@gmail.com

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