September brings a new competition for residents in Care UK’s homes, and the teams that support them, to get creative in the kitchen.
To celebrate 100 years of one of the country’s most iconic baking ingredients, Care UK has been selected by the makers of Stork margarine as its partner to host the brand new competition.
Residents in Care UK’s 123 homes will be invited to create a cake that sums up a decade of their choice from the last 100 years. From the elegance of a 1930s drawing room to the flamboyance of a 1970s party buffet, the only restriction is their imagination.
As well as designing, baking and decorating the cake, residents and team members will then be invited to put their creation as the centrepiece to a themed party that celebrates their chosen decade.
Care UK’s hotel services manager James Clear and senior chef Andrew Mussett have been instrumental in setting up the celebratory partnership with Upfield Professional, the owners of Stork. James said: “Many residents will have strong memories of Stork as an ingredient they used either themselves or used in their family. As well as being great fun, the cake competition will provide the perfect opportunity for residents to take a trip down memory lane as they share reminiscences of this iconic family favourite that we still use every day in our care home kitchens. I hope we get lots of entries.”
Every one of Care UK’s homes has also been sent a beautiful recipe book from the makers of Stork, “The Art of Home Baking – 100 Years of Baking Memories” and a selection of posters showing reproductions of vintage Stork adverts. These are already proving a conversation starter – something particularly important for those living with dementia.
Alan Black, Head of Marketing at Upfield Professional said: “A century of being one of the best-known baking brands in the country deserved a special celebration and we were really pleased when Care UK agreed to be our partners for this centenary competition. Working with older people is a perfect way to celebrate our history and bring back and share more widely the happy memories of people using Stork across the decades. I cannot wait to see all the entries and don’t envy the tough job the judges will have to pick three winners.”
Cake creations in three of Care UK’s homes will be selected as winners by a panel of judges from both the care home team and Stork. Prizes will feature a baking theme as residents in the winning homes can choose from a selection of bakeware and kitchen equipment to enhance their baking activities in the future.
In line with the requirement necessary for keeping everyone safe while Covid-19 is still an issue, all activities to plan and create the cakes will be in line with Care UK’s comprehensive pandemic plan and the judging and awards ceremonies will take place via Zoom.
News about the bakes, and people’s memories of Stork will be shared on the Facebook pages of each home taking part as well as Care UK’s main Facebook and Twitter feeds as well as Stork’s Facebook page and Instagram account.