A SOUTHAMPTON community bakery that is the commercial venture for a charity in the city is officially celebrating its second anniversary this month by offering visitors free birthday cake (December 2023).
Communibakes in Shirley was launched in 2021 to solely support the charity Communicare, which is dedicated to eradicating loneliness and isolation in Southampton.
Matt Baker, Director of CommuniBakes, which is at 21, St James Road, says: “To help mark our birthday, we’re going to offer the first 30 people through our door on Friday, December 15 from 8.30am a free slice of our birthday cake. We’ve chosen 30, as 2021, our launch year, coincided with Communicare’s 30th anniversary as a charity. The 30 slices will be given away on a first come first served basis, no purchase necessary, while stocks last.
“The profit from every coffee, lunch or elevenses customers purchase from us goes to Communicare, to support the incredible work the staff and volunteers do in our neighbourhood and across Southampton. We’ve combined the idea of buying locally with buying socially. So, when anyone buys from us, they can be confident they’re not only eating something sensational, but they’re also giving back to their community.”
As well as supporting Communicare, the bakery’s other aim is to make as much as it can on the premises using quality ingredients.
Matt continues: “We put a lot of hard work, love and passion into what we produce and the proof really is in the eating!
“It’s been an amazing couple of years, we’ve extended our opening hours, hosted events, put tables on the pavement outside for customers to sit at and have expanded our team. But more than that, everything we make and bake helps raise funds for Communicare and its work in our neighbourhood and across the city helping people who are lonely and in need of support.”
Communicare, which is a friendly, neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton.
Annie Clewlow, Communicare’s Manager, says: “It’s been a wonderful first two years with our community bakery and we’re delighted with how things have gone. We wanted to create a community hub, as well as offer great products at a good price. We are very proud of our Bakery team and what they have achieved so far.
“Our services are a vital lifeline to lonely and isolated people in the city and having the bakery as an additional revenue stream has helped us tremendously. We’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to everyone who has popped in during the past 24 months and purchased some bread or a delicious, sweet treat.”
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 here or to call 023 8070 1888.
