ATTFE College and Ashfield Fire Station Raise Funds at Community Charity Bake Off
Students from Academy Transformation Trust Further Education (ATTFE) College joined firefighters from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Ashfield Fire Station for a Community Charity Bake Off at the Cornerstone Theatre on Thursday 12 March, raising funds for The Fire Fighters Charity.
The event brought together students, firefighters and members of the local community in Sutton-in-Ashfield for an evening filled with baking, fundraising and community spirit.
A wide range of cakes, pastries and sweet treats—prepared in advance—were judged on the night, with visitors invited to sample the bakes, purchase their favourites and make donations to the charity.
ATTFE College students played a key role in the success of the event, helping to organise and support the evening, as well as contributing several entries to the competition.
Additional support came from Butterfly Bakery, a community-focused initiative connected with ATTFE College, which supports learners in developing baking, hospitality and enterprise skills. The bakery regularly produces cakes, baked goods and hampers for community events, while providing valuable hands-on experience for students.
Alongside supporting the Bake Off, Butterfly Bakery learners were also busy preparing Mother’s Day cake boxes for the local community, ATTFE staff and friends—showcasing both their creativity and entrepreneurial skills.
The competition featured categories for Adults, Secondary School entrants, and a spectacular ‘Showstopper’ cake, all centred around a fire service theme.
One of the judges, Ashfield Fire Station’s Station Manager, Bryn Jones, said:
“It was fantastic to see firefighters, students and the local community come together for such a positive event. The Fire Fighters Charity provides vital support to firefighters and their families across the UK, and events like this help raise both funds and awareness. The standard of baking was incredibly high, and we’re very grateful to ATTFE College and everyone involved for their support.”
Dianne Holmes, Head of Curriculum Strategy and Partnerships at ATTFE College, who led the event, added:
“Our learners were proud to be involved in supporting this fantastic charity event alongside Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service. Activities like this give learners the opportunity to develop real skills, work with community partners and make a positive difference locally. The support from our Butterfly Bakery learners and staff highlights the talent and dedication we have at ATTFE.”
Guests also had the opportunity to learn more about the work of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, with fire safety advice shared by firefighter Carl Tolley from Ashfield Fire Station.
An impressive £368.05 was raised during the evening, with all proceeds going to The Fire Fighters Charity, which provides lifelong support to members of the UK’s fire services community, including rehabilitation, mental health support and wellbeing services.
Liz Barrett OBE DL, Principal of ATTFE College, expressed her sincere thanks to everyone who organised, baked, volunteered, donated and attended, helping to make the event both enjoyable and impactful in support of a truly worthy cause.
Judges of the event, include:
- Jessica Naylor from West Notts that is on placement with Butterfly Bakery.
- Karen Draycott, Curriculum Lead Practitioner Catering Lead, ATTFE College.
- Bryn Jones, Station Manager, Ashfield Fire Station, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
- Charlotte Smith, The Firefighters Charity Regional Representative.
- Simon Martin MBE, Senior Leader, ATTFE College.