I would like to invite you to a special bake sale which will be ‘popping-up’ on campus on Friday 8th of November, between 10am and 12 noon, in the Undercroft, Biosciences Building (R27 on the campus map). It is a 'special' bake sale because all of the cakes in our sale will be grey to help raise awareness of mental health problems.

It is commonly quoted that 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental health problem at some point in their lives; despite a quarter of the population with personal experience, mental health problems are still to some extent a taboo topic of conversation. In order to address this and encourage conversation, all of the cakes in this sale will be grey on the outside. One of the first things someone might thinks on seeing a grey cake is “why is that cake grey?”, and this gives a great opening to discuss mental health as an issue.

The colour grey can symbolise to some that a mental health problem such as depression has leached the colour out of life. Barely decorated cakes and biscuits can communicate how depression can affect the ability to work and participate in social activities.  The grey, dull, consistent, colour scheme might also reflect how all fun can disappear from life. However, cut them open and you’ll see colour; symbolising how depression coats everything in grey. I know not everyone’s experience of mental illness will be characterised by the colour grey, but I would like the cakes to make an impact, and the one thing I can hopefully guarantee is that grey cakes will turn heads!

All the proceeds from this cake bake (money taken on the day) will go to Birmingham Mind (Charity Number 1003906). However, if you wish to donate but cannot make it due to other commitments you can follow the links above and make on online donation – the proceeds of the online donations will go to Mind.

Everyone is welcome to come along. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter @grey_cakes!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

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