Nadia’s lockdown idea is icing on the cake

A Rochdale student has been using her passion for baking to put smiles on the faces of hundreds of care home residents during the coronavirus pandemic. 

After hearing stories about older people missing out on visitors during the first lockdown in April, Nadia Riley, 17, decided to try and cheer them up, baking cakes at home and delivering them to grateful residents. 

She didn’t stop there: over the last nine months she’s made and delivered over 5,000 tasty cakes and sweet treats to 15 residential care homes.

After initially setting a target of 300 cakes a week, the feedback from those receiving the deliveries was so good she carried on, and increased production.

She said: “During the first lockdown last year I was seeing on the news about people stuck in care homes not able to see their families or have visitors... and I just wanted to do something.

“I figured most people appreciate a cake with their tea or coffee, so maybe donating cakes could cheer a few people up. That was all I wanted to do really, and luckily my family were up for helping me out and taking over the kitchen once a week.”

 

 

Every Sunday Nadia set to work, creating a vast assortment of tasty treats from lemon drizzle cakes, muffins, shortbread and chocolate truffles to fairy cakes, fruit scones, raspberry buns, rock cakes and peanut butter cookies.

She’s even baked the classic strawberry and cream Victoria sponge cake and towards the end of last year celebrated her 5,000 cake milestone with a triple layered red velvet cake and chocolate ganache.

Sara Murray, deputy manager from Fieldhouse Care Home in Rochdale, said: “Our residents are some of the lucky ones who’ve got to taste some of Nadia’s lovely creations over the last few months and they’ve gone down an absolute treat. 

“Getting a delivery from Nadia really brightens everyone’s day. As well as the cakes themselves it’s such a kind and caring gesture that is really appreciated, it warms your heart, Nadia is a gem.”

After nine months of baking, Nadia is now taking a well-earned break to focus on her A-levels: “Balancing college work and giving up most Sundays has been a struggle at times, but the feedback and appreciation I’ve had has been massively rewarding and kept me going.

“It’s good to give something back during what has been and still is a really tough time for so many.”