Mental Health Week Staff Bake Off

As part of Mental Health Week, staff at Kensington Leisure Centre were warmly encouraged to take part in a light-hearted yet meaningful “Bake a Cake” event. The aim was simple: bring in a cake (homemade or shop-bough), take a break from the working day, and spend some time connecting with colleagues over a well-earned slice or two.

Staff from all departments responded with a wide variety of cakes appearing throughout the day. It was clear that some had been busy the night before aiming to become the Kensington Leisure Centre Bake Off Champion for 2026.

The main point of the event (for those that didn’t win) was to get people together in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Staff took the opportunity to take time out, chat with colleagues they might not usually interact with, and share stories, laughs, and occasionally baking tips that ranged from helpful to highly questionable.

The event successfully supported the core message of Mental Health Week: the importance of connection. Taking time out to talk, share experiences, and simply enjoy a moment together proved valuable for team morale. It demonstrated that even small, informal activities can have a positive impact on wellbeing.

Of course, no bake event would be complete without a healthy dose of competition. All staff turned into a panel of highly qualified (and happily well-fed) judges to assess the home baked entries based on taste, presentation, and overall wow factor.

There was tension in the air as bakers waited to hear the results, it was a big well done to Simone and her crowd pleasing chocolate cake which took the top spot.
Ingredients and recipes are already being sought after as staff already start to plan for next year's Bake Off and chance to be Champion Baker of the Year.