Masterchef winner teams up with Hackney charity

An award-winning chef has teamed up with a Hackney charity working to provide birthday cakes for children in the borough.

Natalie Coleman, the 2013 winner of the BBC cooking programme Masterchef, is appearing with Free Cake for Kids Hackney (FCKH) at the UK’s biggest food festival this weekend.

The chef and ex-Hackney native will demonstrate her recipes and promote the work of FCKH at the Foodies Festival Christmas, in the Old Truman Brewery, alongside the charity which will be signing up volunteers.

Natalie said: “I’m very proud to be the patron of FCHK as they don’t claim to change the world, but they make a difference to some kids’ lives. No child should be without a cake on their birthday.”

FCKH was founded three years ago and has since baked more than 300 birthday cakes for disadvantaged children.

Tessa Listone of FCKH said: “Christmas is a financial burden for lots of families, but for those who are already struggling financially to get by every day, the strain can be enormous.

“If we can help by providing a birthday cake for a child at this time of year too then we will.”