Warwick Gates nine-year-old raises money for NHS with her cakes

A nine-year-old from Warwick Gates has been raising money for the NHS by baking.

Darcy Melville, who turns 10 on June 10, has been making cakes since May 23 to help raise money for the Covid-19 South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Support Appeal.

Speaking about what inspired her, Darcy said: "I was inspired to do this because the NHS are really helping us through the pandemic and they saved our family friend’s life whilst he had Covid-19.

"He was in intensive care at Warwick hospital for 10 days but the NHS got him through."

The baking was a half term fundraiser for Darcy and in one week she baked more than 350 cupcakes as well as other items.

Darcy took pre-orders from local friends and neighbours for her cake sale on May 23 outside her house and she raised £350 in pre-orders over a couple of days before her event.

Jayne Melville, Darcy's mum said said: "On the day of her cake sale she was hoping to raise a further £150 in cash with shortbread, cornflake cakes and tray bake sales.

"Instead, Darcy generated a further £400 at the cake sale by generating second orders, new orders from passers by and from selling her delicious cornflake cakes, biscuits and other goodies.

"The grand total was £750.

"Inspired by her total and with it being the start of half-term, Darcy wanted to keep going to try and raise £1,000 or until we ran out of ingredients."

After sharing posts on social media Darcy got more orders and has now raised more than £1,100.

Darcy will now continue to make her cakes until she runs out of ingredients and is potentially looking at doing Father's Day cupcakes.

Jayne added: "Not only has Darcy done an amazing job raising over £1,000 for the NHS but she has also developed lots of business skills.

"Maths - weighing, measuring and scaling up recipes. Marketing - resulted in £350 in pre-orders. Sales - up-selling on the day and generating more orders. Art and Design - creating and mixing colours, cake decorating, packaging, attention to detail and finishing touches."

To donate go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/darcyrose