Get ready to create your dream cupcake! For Bakes Sake is now open in Gosport, offering a unique Subway-style bakery experience. Design your own custom cupcake with a variety of bases, fillings, buttercreams, and toppings.
Hear the inspiring story of how The Dream Machine and Help Bank supported owner Ra in making this dream a reality. Discover how they provided crucial funding, advice, and community support to turn a vision into a thriving local business.
Learn about Rich Hayes' work with The Dream Machine, bringing Simon Squibb's vision to local communities and supporting entrepreneurs. See how a chance meeting and a bit of investment transformed For Bakes Sake from a home operation to a brick-and-mortar bakery.
00:00Hiya, I'm Ra and I own for Bakeshink and I'm 28 years old.
00:03Fabulous. So tell me how excited you are to be opening here at Gosport.
00:06Oh my goodness, it's so exciting. I've gone through all the emotions today, crying, laughing, everything.
00:11I've cried like four times, but I'm so excited and humbled and the turnout's been amazing. It's crazy.
00:16So tell us a little bit about the Dream Machine and how it's turned your dream into reality.
00:21So the Dream Machine, Rich and Kirsty, honestly, without them, I wouldn't be in this position.
00:27They funded us £3,000 towards paying for our bakery and also they've given all the amazing help and advice and support that I've ever needed.
00:38They're literally just a friend call away, but honestly, without them, they're so supportive.
00:42I don't know how to explain it, but it's insane. They're really lovely people.
00:46So just explain a little bit about what you sell and some of your popular items.
00:50Yeah, so this is a completely new concept today.
00:53So we are doing a Subway-style bakery, so basically you can create your own cupcake from scratch.
00:59You choose your base, you fill your cupcakes, you do the buttercream, and then you choose whatever toppings you want.
01:05We also do have an array of pre-made treats like cookie pie, sugar cookies, retro cakes,
01:09but we're focusing mainly on the Subway version of a cake store.
01:15Fabulous. And obviously the reaction's been absolutely huge.
01:18Everyone's been so lovely. We opened late and we didn't get our ovens fitted until 7am this morning.
01:25Oh, wow.
01:25So that's why we're running so late.
01:27So yeah, it's been crazy.
01:28Everyone seems to still be on your side though.
01:30Yeah, definitely.
01:30Looking forward to some cake.
01:31Yeah, yeah, we'll see you soon.
01:32Well, wish you the best of luck and thank you so much for talking to us.
01:35Thank you so much.
01:35Hi, so I'm Rich Hayes. I run the Dream Machine here as part of Help Bank.
01:40Brilliant. So for those who don't know about the Dream Machine, tell us a little bit about it and how you've helped opening the bakery today.
01:46Of course. So the Dream Machine is all about helping people on the road.
01:51It's about taking Simon Squibb's Watch Your Dream initiative around the UK and finding a way to help people in a bit more unique way.
01:57My purpose within the Help Bank and what I do is to support the community in a bit of a different approach.
02:03I reach the people that Simon cannot reach, which are those people who are in these local communities that we just haven't been able to tap into.
02:08Social media can only take you so far.
02:11It's about going on the ground and getting into communities that really can help support individuals.
02:14My support in helping ForBakesakes open their bakery today, we were reached out by ForBakesakes at the beginning of the tour and they offered out their driveway.
02:23And we went into their home and they told us their story of what had been happening, which led us to do a pop-up with them about six weeks ago.
02:30And through that, we actually managed to get a few minutes with Simon on a call where he could introduce himself to Rara and Brian here at ForBakesakes.
02:37And through that, we've actually got a bit of investment from Simon to allow builders to come into their unit, get it all ready and fast forward from when we first met them three months ago to where we are today.
02:50It's been quite a remarkable journey for both of them.
