Madeline Jenness and Ellie Moodley from Southampton have been crowned the winners of a bake-off style competition hosted by a community bakery in the city.
Madeleine won in the adult’s category, while 13-year-old Ellie won the competition in the under 16s category at CommuniBakes. Their winning bakes will now be made and sold throughout the month.
Ally Molyneaux, Bakery Manager at CommuniBakes on St James Road, Southampton, which is the commercial venture of the charity Communicare, said: “We’d like to say a huge ‘congratulations’ to Madeleine and Ellie on winning our Bake Off competition. We were seriously impressed with their entries. Madeleine baked delicious pistachio cupcakes with strawberry cream and Ellie baked pina colada cupcakes with grilled pineapple.
“We were blown away by all of the entries and want to thank everyone who took part. We chose Madeleine and Ellie’s bakes as our winners, with the help of our guest judge Matt Baker, as they showed real creativity and looked very professional.
“We’d like to thank everyone who entered as we were extremely impressed by the talent and we’d like to thank everyone who popped into the bakery, everyone who volunteered and everyone who ran activities and crafts on the day, we had great fun!”
The bakes will now be made and sold in the bakery throughout August. Money raised from the winning bakes will go towards new equipment for the bakery.
Ellie said: “I’ve always enjoyed baking, so this was a great opportunity to refine my skills and maybe even show-off a little bit! CommuniBakes is such a great bakery, so I was excited to be able to support them in this way. I just can’t wait to taste their rendition of my Pina Colada muffins!”
Madeleine (pictured top) said: “I’ve loved baking cakes for my friends and family since I was a teenager. I’m on maternity leave at the moment and entered the competition as I wanted to do something just for me since having my lovely baby.
“I’m really happy to have won the Bake Off competition and couldn’t believe it when Ally phoned me. I am thrilled sales of my cake will go to such a fantastic cause in the city.”
CommuniBakes (previously Love Cake) was purchased to help raise funds for Communicare in November 2021 and is a separated limited company. All profits from the bakes sold go towards the charity and the work it does to help lonely and isolated people across Southampton.
Communicare, which is a friendly, neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton. Its services are staffed by its committed, kind-hearted volunteers, known as Communiteers. Communicare’s Good Neighbours’ Network currently supports more than 600 individuals/families through tasks including one-to-one telephone befriending, transport for essential appointments and assistance with shopping.
Anyone interested in finding out more about CommuniBakes, which is at 21, St James Road in Shirley, is invited to pop in when it’s open, visit its website www.communibakes.co.uk or to call 023 8070 1888.
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