Create your own showstoppers this September with a Dorothy House Coffee Morning!

If you’re feeling inspired to get baking thanks to the return of Great British Bake Off this month, why not use that inspiration to host your very own Dorothy House Coffee Morning?

A Dorothy House Coffee Morning is a fun and rewarding way to get together with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours, providing everyone with a chance to enjoy some great food and drink, while fundraising for hospice care in your local community. Whether you have a personal connection to Dorothy House, or you simply love an excuse for a slice of cake and a good natter, a charity coffee event is the perfect opportunity.

Your event, your way

One of the best things about hosting a Coffee Morning is that you can do so any time of the year, for whatever occasion. Here’s a few suggestions to get those ideas going!

• Theme your event around a particular holiday, such as Easter, Halloween or Christmas.
• If you’re hosting in memory of someone, consider holding it on a date that was special to that person, such as their birthday or an occasion they always celebrated.
• If you’ve been inspired by the latest happenings in the Bake-Off tent, you could even host a GBBO themed event – minus the stress of the technical challenge, of course!
• Of course, having a theme is optional – if you want to hold a Coffee Morning ‘just because,’ go ahead!

Coffee and cake for charity

The flexibility of a Dorothy House Coffee Morning means you can host it wherever you choose, too. Whether that’s in the form of a low-key event with a few of the neighbours or a big work bash with the entire company, there’s options for everyone.

At home: Hosting a Coffee Morning at home is a great chance to get together and have a chat with friends, family and neighbours while enjoying some delicious cakes. Preheat the oven and get the kettle on!

At work: If you’re looking for an excuse to get together with your colleagues and boost morale, look no further! You could even look at making a day of it by putting on games and having prizes up for grabs. A Coffee Morning is just the tip of the iceberg too – be sure to check out our corporate partnerships page to find out more ways for your workplace to get involved!

At school: Coffee Mornings aren’t just for adults! Hosting your event at school will bring a sense of community and achievement to everyone involved, and it’s also a great way to educate children on the work we do at Dorothy House, working towards our goal of destigmatising death and dying.

Get raising some dough!

We’ll provide you with everything you need to help you prepare for your Coffee Morning. When you sign up, we’ll provide you with your free Event Pack which includes:

• Cake labels
• Invitations
• Posters
• Celebratory bunting
• Tasty recipes
• A handy hints and tips guide

We can also provide additional resources such as collection buckets if you’d like them – simply get in touch with our Fundraising team and let us know!

Jenny and Mandy’s Coffee Morning

Jenny hosted a Dorothy House Coffee Morning back in August, along with her friend, Mandy. Held in memory of Jenny’s brother, Richard, they sold yummy cakes and held a raffle, raising an incredible £1,000 for the Hospice.

When we asked Jenny what her top baking tip would be, she told us:

“Give yourself plenty of time and don’t rush things. Keep calm!”

Kingfisher Church’s community coffee event

A fantastic example of community coming together was when the Kingfisher Church in Trowbridge held a Coffee Morning last year. Church members, Ruth, Ann and Ali all had their own personal connections to Dorothy House and wanted to give something back to the Hospice, even taking the time to create short videos telling their stories. In total, their Coffee Morning raised a fantastic £440!

Bake and support Dorothy House

Our care and support for patients and families is completely free of charge, but we need to raise funds in order for them to keep running. For every £1 we receive from the NHS, we need to raise an additional £4, and we can’t do that without the support of our incredible community. However you host your Coffee Morning, the most important thing is that you’ll be raising vital funds for Dorothy House, helping to ensure that we’re here for the people who need us most.

Raise funds for hospice care with every sip and every slice! Sign up to host a Dorothy House Coffee Morning today! Don’t forget to share your photos with us on social media – tag us using @dorothyhousehc and use #DHCoffeeMorning.