Bethlem Baking Buddies was a pilot series of six, two-hour Real Bread baking sessions for resident mental health care service users at Bethlem Royal Hospital, part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

It was run from 21 April to 26 May 2017 as part of the Campaign’s Together We Rise initiative, in association with Bethlem’s Occupational Therapy department and Sticky Mitts.

All of the five participants’ responses to weekly evaluation questions revealed baking that day made them feel happier, creative and a sense of achievement. In the majority of their responses, they also reported that baking had made them feel relaxed, a sense of purpose and less anxious.