Children in Need with BBC Radio Manchester

We will be taking part in Children in Need this year and we hope to raise more money than ever.

Every year, BBC Radio Manchester organises a fundraising event to support the charity. This year, some presenters will each be walking a half marathon, starting and finishing at different Children in Need-funded projects in Greater Manchester.

Their task is to raise and collect money as they go, and they will also be broadcasting live from the route.

They will be passing our school on Tuesday 13^th November and we have been asked if we would like to speak to presenter Mike Sweeney and pass on our generous donations to Children in Need.

On Tuesday morning we are asking children to bring in a minimum of £1 and a nicely decorated bun. During the morning the children will be able to eat their bun and ‘have their cake and eat it’! Pudsey teddy bears are also warmly invited to attend! If you are making your own cakes, please follow the advice from the Food Standards Agency.

We aim to raise lots of money to hand over to BBC Radio Manchester. We will also be able to tell them how we are raising money in a live broadcast.

Advice from the Food Standards Agency (www.food.gov.uk)

Cakes

You can serve home-made cakes at community events. They should be safe to eat, as long as:

• the people who make them follow good food hygiene advice

• the cakes are stored and transported safely

Making and transporting cakes

If you make a cake at home:

• use recipes from reputable sources

• always wash your hands before preparing food

• make sure that surfaces, bowls, utensils, and any other equipment are clean

• don’t use raw eggs in anything that won’t be thoroughly cooked, such as icing or mousse

• keep cheesecakes and any cakes or desserts containing fresh cream in the fridge

• store cakes in a clean, sealable container, away from raw foods

On the day, when you bring in cakes from home or run the stall, you should:

• transport cakes in a clean, sealable container

• make sure that cheesecake and any cakes or desserts containing fresh cream are left out of the fridge for the shortest time possible, ideally not longer than four hours

• when handling cakes use tongs or a cake slice

Storing cakes

You can keep cakes and baked goods with high sugar content in:

• airtight containers – this will prevent mould growth through absorption of moisture from the atmosphere

• the fridge – cakes will last for longer, but their quality may be affected

Any cakes with high moisture additions, such as cream, added after baking, should not be left at room temperature. They must be stored chilled (in the fridge) and eaten within the shelf-life of the added product.

There are some types of icing, such as ganache and buttercream that can be kept outside the fridge. It’s best to store them somewhere cool and dry. Check the guidelines for storage of the particular icing product you will be using.