Baking isn’t just about producing delicious treats to eat, but it’s also a wonderful way to enjoy some ‘me time’ and indulge in sensory pleasures. A group of young women are set to discover all this and more on a visit to the young adult’s hospice, Douglas House, in Oxford.

On 5 February, with some assistance, a group of young women will take part in the ‘Douglas House Bake Off’ judged by professional cake maker and decorator, Tracey Mann, followed by a chocolate rose-making workshop, led by Tracey.

The event is the inspiration of keen baker Fleur Perry, 23, from Wiltshire, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and visits Douglas House for respite care.  Her condition means that it can be very difficult getting together with friends to share in such an activity, but visiting Douglas House, a modern, hotel-style building built specifically to cater for the social, physical, emotional and medical needs of young adults with life-shortening conditions, gives her the opportunity to enjoy what a lot of us take for granted, while at the same time having her specialist medical needs looked after.

Fleur Perry explains, ‘I been baking all my life: When I was younger I ‘helped’ my Mum and Granny bake, usually by licking the bowl. Nowadays I love experimenting with new recipes, flavours and techniques; and of course I still lick the bowl afterwards!’

To find out more about Helen & Douglas House, or to make a donation to the charity, please visit www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

Fleur Perry came up with the idea for a bake-off at Douglas House