Cheshire afternoon tea raises hundreds for NSPCC

An NSPCC committee has raised more than £900 for the children’s charity by baking and delivering 100 cream teas in 2 hours.

The Bowdon and District branch of the NSPCC organised for seven of the group’s bakers to work socially distanced with packers and deliverers, who hand delivered each carefully prepared tea.

Even though the committee expected around 50 teas to be ordered, more than a hundred people had teas delivered, and many sent them as gifts for friends and relatives.

An important part of the delivery was not only the exchange of cakes and scones, but also making sure that those who had been socially isolated for much of the lockdown saw a friendly face and had time to talk with someone.

Emma Smyth, from the Bowdon and District branch, said: “The lockdown has starved people of their usual social interactions and engagements out, so it seems a home delivered tea was just the ticket.”

“We’re so glad that people loved it as much as they did, and in the meantime, helped us raise over £900 for the NSPCC, to help them support children at this challenging time.”

Janette Drew, Community Fundraising Manager for the NSPCC, said: “We are so thankful that the Bowdon committee received such an amazing response to their cream teas.”

“It will go towards funding our services like Childline, which are working hard to answer thousands of calls from worried and anxious children in this time of crisis.”

Childline recently announced its emergency appeal ‘We’re Still Here’, encouraging people to donate so that the service can continue to answer children who are feeling worried or scared.

Across the UK, between the 10th of January to the 10th of May 2020, our Childline Service has delivered 6,938 counselling sessions to children and young people who are worried about coronavirus and lockdown.  

Emma added: “We will be holding another on Sunday the 5^th July, but orders close on the 3^rd so send them to pthyde@live.com as soon as possible to guarantee booking!”

If you can’t make the tea but would like to donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bowdon-nspcc-committee.