Human Appeal launches the Great Charity Bake-Off with special guests Ash Baber and Cristy Sharp

The humanitarian aid charity is calling on 48 bakers across London and Manchester as part of the 'Bake a Difference' fundraising competition in aid of its Orphan Appeal initiative

9th November 2026: Human Appeal, one of the UK's leading humanitarian charities, has launched its latest fundraising initiative, the Great Charity Bake-Off, inviting baking enthusiasts in Manchester (29 November 2026) and London (20 December 2026) to put their skills to the test in aid of the charity's Orphan Appeal initiative.

Taking place across both cities, the live baking competition will bring together 48 passionate bakers (24 in each location) to raise money for Human Appeal's Orphan Appeal initiative, supporting vulnerable children across 15 countries. Participants can secure their place for £50, which includes a guided baking experience, all ingredients and professional equipment, as well as a dedicated fundraising page. Each baker will be challenged to raise £480, enough to provide an orphaned child with a year of essential support, including food, shelter, healthcare and education.

The Great Charity Bake-Off will welcome two special guests: Ash Baber, self-taught baker and content creator, who was named 2026 Content Creator of the Year at the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, joining the Manchester bake-off event. Cristy Sharp, a quarter-finalist on The Great British Bake Off in 2023, will be joining the London bake-off.

Through its Orphan Appeal initiative, Human Appeal sponsors over 53,000 vulnerable orphans each year across 15 countries, providing food, shelter, healthcare and educational resources. The charity's sponsorship programmes offer ongoing, end-to-end support to help children build safer and more secure futures.

Samina Taj, Associate Director of Communications at Human Appeal, says: "We're delighted to be launching the Great Charity Bake-Off and bringing communities in London and Manchester together for a great cause. It's a fantastic opportunity to have fun, get baking and make a meaningful difference to the lives of vulnerable children. We're grateful to everyone taking part, and to Cristy and Ash for helping make the event extra special."

Ash Baber says: "I'm really excited to be joining the Great Charity Bake-Off in Manchester and getting involved in such a brilliant event. Baking for me has always been about creativity and bringing people together, so it's great to see it being used to support such an important cause. I can't wait to see what goodies everyone bakes up."

Cristy Sharp says: "I'm excited to be part of an event that uses baking to bring communities together and make a real difference. It's fantastic that people can try something new while helping to raise vital funds for vulnerable children across the globe. I hope lots of people get involved and enjoy the experience as much as I know I will."

The Great Charity Bake Off will take place in the following cities:

• Manchester - 29 November 2026: The Big Manchester Bake, Unit 2, 4 New Bailey, Stanley Street, Salford, Greater Manchester, M3 5FS
• London - 20 December 2026: The Big Bake London East, Railway Arch 323, Under The Bridge, Lee Street, E8 4ED, Haggerston, London

About Human Appeal

Human Appeal is a fully independent British humanitarian charity based in Manchester, UK. It was established in 1991 as a registered and regulated UK charity that runs targeted aid relief programmes in collaboration with recognised global organisations such as the United Nations. Its purpose is to save and transform lives through emergency aid response and development programmes at home and abroad across over 30 countries worldwide.