Social media gets a lot of flak but it allows for sharing of ideas and the Depressed Cake Shop is one of those ideas that is growing like Topsy.
On the first weekend in August (or other convenient times in some places) watch out for a new pop-up cake shop, the same yummy mix of cakes but with one thing in common (well apart from calories) - the colour grey.
The brain child of Miss Cakehead it is all intended to raise the profile of mental health issues and the lives of those affected, to break through the silence that harbours the stigmas that get in the way of people asking for help. The grey portraying the dull and negative feelings around depression and other conditions, but many of the cakes will be brightly coloured and full of flavour inside - the reality of hope, and the person beyond the clouds of depression. Profits from the shops going to locally chosen mental health support charities.
It started off focussed around the UK but people from around the world have now captured the idea and shops go from California to Kuala Lumpa with volunteer bakers both amateur and professional.
Now I am not a great baker, but I know a good visual aid when I see one so with a stand at the High School fete approaching, already provided with Time to Change resources, I joined the ranks of those mixing up grey icing. Ok so mine was going on shop brought cupcakes and biscuits, but I planned on giving them away not charging so I think I got away with it.
It was a really good opener for conversation - instead of 'have a leaflet' it was 'would you like a free cake' and then a reaction or comment about the greyness led on to why and the wider issue of mental health support within the community.
And it got me, the cakes and the whole issue onto page 3 of the local paper... (not the best look after an hour or two of stifling heat!)
With others trying to find ways to support people in our community we will be popping up again on Aug 3rd at Tenbury Countryside Show.
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