Help Open The Amber Sand Community Studio

Aim: Help us launch first The Amber Sand Bakery Studio. We bake cakes, make sweets, sourdough and build support system for local community.

                                        Meet the Baker

     Hi, I am Alona, the founder and baker behind The Amber Sand Bakery. It all started in a small home kitchen, where I have been baking cakes, handmade sweets, and sourdough bread, for the past eight years.

     I spent those years learning new skills and techniques, refining recipes and developing new ones, and slowly turning a quiet craft into full-time work, shaped by evening practice after my day job, weekends spent in the kitchen, and holidays used for courses and training.

  Now, I am ready to open the doors to something a little bigger-a space that brings people together through cake, craft, and genuine connection. 

                                        It Is Time to Open the Door

       Baking has never been just a job. It is the way I create and  connect with others, and bring a little joy into everyday life.

     Decorating cakes is the part I enjoy most, a quiet moment when I can slow down, and can focus completely on creating something beautiful for someone else. There is something special about handing over a cake or a box of sweets, see people's reaction, when they open a box, made just for them. That joy, that little spark-is what keeps me going.

    Now, I am ready to open a small studio bakery-a calm, cosy space where I can bake more, teach more, and share more with the community.

   My dream is to create a warm, welcoming place where:

 -You can stop by for coffee and a slice of cake or sourdough bread

-Join a baking class in relaxed, friendly group

-Meet others, learn new skills, or simply feel to be part of kind, creative community

    It is not just a bakery. It is a space where people come together, reconnect and feel at home.

                                        Why Now and What It is For

     After years of baking from home, I feel ready-not just to grow, but to give something back.

     Many of my customers have supported me over the years, returning again and again with kind words and encouragement. Thanks to them, I kept going. Now, it feels right to create a space I can share- not only with them, but with wider community.

    In the past year, I have also completed courses in life coaching and cognitive behavioural techniques- to gain the tools and understanding to support others in a deeper way. I have learned how to guide people gently through challenge and doubt.

      And I know this very much in needed.

    According to the UK's Office for National Statistics, in 2022 alone, nearly 3.83 million adults across the country reported feeling lonely "often or always"-and the numbers are still growing. This chronic loneliness increases the risk of premature death by approximately 26%, as highlighted by Campaign to EndLoneliness

     Research from Age UK(2015) shows that loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It increases the risk of depression, blood pressure, elevate stress level while weakening the immune system.

      Loneliness is it not just emotional-it damages health, shortens lives, and touches millions.

     This project is a small but tangible way to push back. The Amber Sand Studio Bakery will be more than a place to buy a tasty cake. It will be a warm, inclusive space where people can:

-take part in baking classes

-join interest-based groups

-learn new skills and meet others

-or simply sit down for tea and talk to someone who is there to listen and not feel lonely

     There will always be a place in the studio for The Listening Chair- a seat for anyone feeling lonely, isolated, or in need of connection.. A quiet moment, a warm drink, a handmade biscuit, and the chance to be heard.

    This is a small studio with a big intention-to bring people together through baking, connection, and care.

                                    Your support will go toward:

   To bring this studio bakery to life, the minimum amount needed to open the doors and start is £26,000.

This will cover only essentials, enough to begin, welcome the first visitors, and start to offer community support. 

    Each stage gets us one step closer:

        £6,000-Secure the Space

Covers the deposit and legal costs to secure a small studio space in London.

       £15,000-Make it Workable

Funds basic renovation -electrics, plumbing, flooring, and preparation of the space for safe use.

         £23,000-Equip the Kitchen

 Purchases key equipment-commercial mixer, fridge, freezer, display cabinets, and coffee machine, all essential for baking and classes.

      £26,000-Open the Doors

Covers tables and chairs, shelving, and initial supplies for workshops. This stage allows us to welcome our first customers and begin working with the community.

Every part of this budget has been carefully planned, so the studio can open doors and  start to operate safely.

Even the smallest donation helps build something that will last. Every kind word, every share, and every bit of support means more than you know.

                                             We Can Do It Together

    This is a place I have dreamed of creating for years- where every cake is handmade, every detail matter, and people feel seen, heard and supported. A space that connects.

  You are not just funding a bakery, you are helping create a space filled with care, comfort, and connection. A place we all need more of in our lives.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, means the world to me. My gratitude comes from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2025 at 7:29am