A COMMUNITY group in Reading that makes birthday cakes for children who might otherwise miss out is baking their 400th cake this week (Friday August 9).

Reading Free Cakes for Kids will be baking their milestone cake for a three-year-old boy who loves Paw Patrol.

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The group is run by volunteers who bake cakes for children who might miss out perhaps due to family circumstances and finances.

It forms part of the national Free Cakes for Kids network which operates across the country.

The Reading branch was set up in 2014 by Jo Cordy, 42, who lives in Caversham and had been a volunteer baker at the Hackney group but found there wasn’t one in Reading when she moved here.

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She said: “I think every child should have a cake on their birthday, and our group aims to help families who might struggle to give their child a cake.

“We don't often get to see the children receiving their cakes, but it's lovely when we get positive messages from the families or from whoever requested the cake.

“I'm amazed that we've made 400 birthday cakes in the last 5 years (in addition to cakes for stalls and Christmas parties), and I'm very grateful to all our wonderful volunteer bakers!”

The group receives requests for cakes from professionals and organisations such as social workers, health visitors, schools and women’s refuges.

There are around 40 bakers signed up to the community group who receive an email when a request comes in.

The volunteer bakers then find out what the child’s interests are and try to make a birthday cake that reflects these.

They buy the ingredients themselves, make the cakes in their own kitchens and deliver the cakes in the Reading area.

Mrs Cordy revealed their most popular requests now are chocolate and Paw Patrol.

The community also runs cake stalls at events such as Reading Town Meal and the money goes towards buying cake boxes, insurance and website hosting.