What is Big Cake Bake?
Big Cake Bake is a fun and easy way to help others when they need it most. It’s about getting together with your work colleagues, friends and family to bake the world a better place.
Taking part is easy, and everyone can join in. Simply by hosting a morning tea, cake sale, workplace bake off, or a cake decorating competition you’ll be helping people going through tough times in our local and international communities.
When is Big Cake Bake?
Big Cake Bake is happening now! You can register and hold an event until 31 October 2023.
How does this event work?
It’s a piece of cake! The idea is to host a Big Cake Bake event in your workplace, home or community and raise much-needed funds to support the vital work of Red Cross.
Register at bigcakebakeorg.au, by calling the team on 1800 733 276, or email contactus@redcross.org.au. Once registered, you will be sent a link to download your host kit with all the information you need to get started.
- Plan your event. The host kit contains all the tools you need to promote and run a successful event.
- Spread the word! Get as many people as possible to support your event and raise as much as you can to help support those in need.
- Send in the money you raise to Red Cross and then start saving recipes for next year!
Is Big Cake Bake a national event?
Yes. Big Cake Bake is happening in every State and Territory in Australia.
Can I host a virtual event instead of gathering in person?
Yes, this is a great way to get creative with how you host your event. You can still set up your fundraising page as normal, and select the ‘online event’ option when registering. We’re here if you have any questions. Reach out on contactus@redcross.org.au
Do I have to host an event?
Hosting an event is a great way to raise funds for Red Cross and have some fun too. However, if you’re not able to host an event before the end of the year, you can also make a donation online at www.bigcakebake.org.au
Do I have to bake?
While Big Cake Bake lets you have some fun in the kitchen, the event is more about getting together with your friends, family or colleagues and supporting a great cause.
If you’d prefer not to bake, why not organise a competition where everyone else bakes? Or see if your local bakery or supermarket will donate a cake, which you can then slice up and sell?
Does it cost anything to take part?
There is no cost to register for Big Cake Bake. If you are hosting an event, there may be costs associated with running your event. You might choose to make a cake from ingredients you already have at home, or you may want to buy one.
Alternatively, you could encourage a friend, family member or colleague to bake a cake for you or ask a local bakery or supermarket if they can support your event by donating something. You might also choose to theme your event or supply goodie bags for your guests.
How much do I have to raise?
There isn’t a set minimum amount that you have to raise to take part in Big Cake Bake, however, we ask our hosts to do their best to raise as much as possible. The more money we can raise together, the more support Red Cross can give to people going through tough times around Australia and overseas.
What support will I receive?
Once you register you will be sent a link to download your host kit with all the information you need to get started, including posters and bunting. You can get in touch with the Big Cake Bake team for help and support by calling 1800 733 276 or email contactus@redcross.org.au with any queries.
Do I have to hold my event at work?
You can hold your Big Cake Bake event anywhere. Your workplace is just one of many places you can hold your event, and offers a great opportunity for team building and staff engagement. You may even want to encourage your employer to support your event by dollar matching what you and your colleagues raise. If you can’t hold a Big Cake Bake event in your workplace, consider having one at home, or at a suitable venue in your local community.
How can I get my school/university involved?
Hosting a Big Cake Bake event is a great way to get students involved in fundraising and learn about the humanitarian work of Red Cross. Events could include a school cake sale, a teachers tea party, a ‘Go Red’ for Red Cross themed day or perhaps a stall at a school or community fete.
What shall I do about food allergies?
Make sure you check what ingredients have been included in any products before purchase or consumption at a Big Cake Bake event. You must disclose the ingredients used in products being sold or exchanged. You can do this verbally or by labelling your products.
Red Cross accepts no responsibility for any issues arising from the selling of foods prepared for Big Cake Bake events, including food allergies, adverse reactions, food poisoning, anaphylaxis, other illnesses or sickness caused by food products and/or their preparation, storage, handling, presentation or consumption.
What about food handling?
It is the responsibility of the registered host or supporter preparing or cooking products for Big Cake Bake events to ensure they maintain acceptable standards of hygiene when baking.
It is always good practice to follow proper food handling and safety advice (link to: https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/eating-well/food-safety) when preparing and storing food, as advised by the Australian Government.
When preparing and storing your food:
- maintain good hygiene practices
- wash fresh fruit and vegetables under running water before eating
- avoid preparing food for other people if you are unwell including if you have an respiratory illness
- If you do not have the appropriate appliances accessible on the premises of where the selling of food is to occur then avoid selling products that require refrigeration or need to be kept at certain temperatures. This includes cold set products such as mousse and ice-cream.
Learn more about food safety in relation to COVID-19 (link to: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/ongoing-support-during-coronavirus-covid-19/healthy-eating-during-coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions#coronavirus-and-food-safety)
Any agreements to purchase products from a Big Cake Bake registered host or supporter is an agreement between the buyer and the registered host or supporter. Australian Red Cross has no control over third party fundraising activities and takes no responsibility over the quality, safety or legality of the products being sold and exchanged.
Why are you encouraging people to eat unhealthy, sugary food?
We acknowledge that the Big Cake Bake is centred around baking sweet treats, but we encourage people to enjoy them in moderation – and we are only asking people to partake in this event for one day of the year.
The Big Cake Bake doesn’t have to be only sweet, sugary foods. Bakers can opt for savoury options too. We have some great savoury recipes available. https://www.bigcakebake.org.au/recipes
We also offer healthy baking tips to modify recipes. https://www.bigcakebake.org.au/healthy-baking
What’s most important about the event is getting together and connecting with people while raising funds to help others.
Where does the money raised go?
The money raised at Big Cake Bake events around the country will go towards our vital everyday work helping people and communities, in Australia and across our region - from assisting elderly and isolated people to stay independent at home, to helping newly arrived migrants and people seeking asylum settle safely in their new home and responding to natural disasters when they occur.
Learn more about our work at www.redcross.org.au
How can I deposit my Big Cake Bake money?
a) Bank deposit — you can deposit funds into our bank account, using the details sent to you in your host kit paperwork. If you have misplaced this information, please call the Big Cake Bake team on 1800 733 276 or email contactus@redcross.org.au for details and instructions.
b) Cheque or money order — Please send cheques/money orders made payable to ‘Australian Red Cross’ to Australian Red Cross, Big CakeBake, GPO Box 2957, Melbourne VIC 3001.
c) Credit card online — use your credit card to return funds collected at your Big Cake Bake event through your fundraising dashboard. Log in to your dashboard and firstly click on the ‘My Donations’ button. From there you will see a red button ‘Add Offline Donation’ which will allow you make one lump sum payment or individual payments received from donors at your event. Please note, if you are making individual payments on behalf of your donors, you will be required to enter in their contact details so they can be issued with a tax receipt accordingly. Tax receipts are for donations only. Please see below for more information on tax receipts.
d) Encourage your donors to donate directly to your online fundraising page — share the link to your online fundraising page via email and social media to everyone attending your Big Cake Bake event. Once they visit your page, tell them to click on the red ‘Donate’ button. Donors can pay directly to your page, leave messages of support and will automatically receive a tax receipt for their donation.
e) Donations of $2 and over may be tax-deductible.
- If your supporters request a tax receipt, the best practice for this is to encourage them to make a payment to your online fundraising page - a tax receipt will be automatically emailed to them.
If you do not have an online fundraising page or have forgotten the details, please contact the Big Cake Bake team on 1800 733 276 or email contactus@redcross.org.au for assistance.
