A birthday cake makes a child feel special on their big day, but sometimes for various reasons it is hard for families to give their childen one.

Four years ago Henriette Lundgren set up an Oxford community group called Free Cakes for Kids. Her aim was to create a service for families who find it difficult to provide a birthday cake for a child.

Since 2008 the community group has gone from strength to strength, recruiting new volunteer bakers and making great links with local groups. In fact, the word spread and now there is a whole network of Free Cakes for Kids groups, with more than 40 communities across the UK getting involved. Each week the team get cake requests from local families. The team matches two parties: families who find it difficult to provide a birthday cake for their child and passionate volunteer bakers who enjoy making themed cakes in their private kitchens. The volunteer baker will then get in contact with the family directly to discuss how our community group works, and to decide what sort of cake to make.

The variation is huge, from traditional number cakes with chocolate icing to colourful designs showing the latest children's television character. The team also run community baking sessions and will often make celebration cakes, most recently for a number of Jubilee events across Oxford.

In September, Henriette is moving to New York with her husband Malte, who has also been a crucial part of the Free Cakes For Kids operation. The team are delighted for them, but also realise they have big shoes to fill.

The new Free Cakes for Kids chairman, Hannah Rolls, works in publishing and has already helped to organise community baking days for the group.

When she heard that Henriette was leaving, her first thought was ‘how exciting’ quickly followed by ‘what are we going to do now?’ Hannah hopes that Free Cakes for Kids Oxford can continue to help bringing the community together by providing birthday cakes for children who otherwise would not have one. She adds that she hopes the group can be a place where people come together — and of course eat some great cake!

Free Cakes for Kids Oxford has a new number for those wishing to ask for a cake; this is available primarily through children's centres and the foodbank.

The service is confidential and families can contact the team themselves or are referred by one of the group’s partnering organisations. Visit freecakesoxford.org.uk to find out more.