World's Biggest Coffee Morning - 29th September

Posted by Francis Whitehead on September 25, 2023

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, organised by Macmillan Cancer Support, is back on Friday the 29^th of September. But what happens on the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and how did it all begin?

 

History of The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

Back in 1990, Macmillan Cancer Support had a simple but brilliant idea. A group of people could meet up, have a coffee together and give a small donation for cancer support at the same time.

Flash forward to 2023 and this idea has now become the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, and in 2022, it raised over £12 million pounds, which can all go towards providing Macmillan nurses to directly support those living with cancer.

Ever since that first coffee morning in 1990, hundreds of millions of pounds have been raised for Macmillan so they can continue to give invaluable support to people and their families suffering from cancer.

 

Who are Macmillan Cancer Support?

In 1911, a young man named Douglas Macmillan watched his father die of cancer. His father's pain and suffering moved Douglas so much, he founded the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer.

Douglas wanted to make sure that there was help and information for those living with cancer, as well as voluntary nurses that could visit patients in their own homes.

Before Douglas' father died, he gave his son ten pounds.

Douglas used his inheritance of ten pounds to set up the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer, which later became Macmillan Cancer Support.

Over the decades since 1911, Macmillan has become one of the leading cancer charities in the UK, and that same ethos created by Douglas Macmillan still stands to this day.

Not only do Macmillan provide help to those who need it, but they are also a community; a forum for those living with cancer, and their families, to connect with other people facing the same challenges. This is key, as it stops people from feeling isolated.

Their work is staggering, and in 2021 alone their services reached 2.4 million people affected by cancer.

You can find out more about the history of Macmillan Cancer Support here.

 

How Do I Go to The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning?

Taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is easy, you simply have to sign up with Macmillan to host one.

When you sign up, Macmillan will send out a Coffee Morning Kit so you can get started. The complete classic kit includes bunting, balloons, and a tablecloth, or you can choose the eco-conscious light kit with less paper and no plastic. Each kit includes recipes, a collection box, event posters, and a game for your event.

Don't worry if you can't host or attend a coffee morning on September 29th, you can hold a coffee morning for Macmillan any time you'd like to. Your coffee morning for Macmillan can be whatever you'd like. You could host a barbecue in your garden or on your driveway or you could get together with friends and order a takeaway; the options are endless!

After you’ve set up an event of your own, you can check out Macmillan’s extensive list of resources to make sure your coffee morning is an unforgettable one.

 

Cakes and Biscuits

Baking (and eating) has become an integral part of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning; people are encouraged to bake cakes, savouries, and biscuits to bring along.

Even if your oven is your worst enemy, you could bring in some cakes from a local bakery or supermarket to share with friends and colleagues.

Macmillan even has some fantastic recipes on their website for you to try for yourself.

 

What Happens with The Money Raised at The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning?

To give you an idea of just how invaluable these annual coffee mornings are for Macmillan, here are a few examples of what could be achieved if we help raise vital funds:

• £71 could help run their Online Community forum for over 3 hours. Typically, that would give nearly 198 people affected by cancer both emotional and practical support by providing a safe environment to share their experiences and emotions.
• £100 could pay for a person affected by cancer to attend a health and wellbeing event, providing them with skills to improve the management of these areas in their lives.
• £350 could pay for a Macmillan grant that helps a family affected by cancer take a holiday and enjoy precious time together. This can relieve financial pressure on a family that has been affected by cancer.
• £646 could pay for a Macmillan Support Worker for a week, helping patients, family members and carers manage the social and practical problems of living with cancer.
• £1202 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for a week, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical, and emotional support.

 

World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – Join In!

It’s incredible that what started out as a simple idea for a coffee morning has become the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in such a short space of time.

We here at Ability Superstore have all sorts of useful items to help you get baking for a good cause. Everything from talking measuring scales, whisks, ladles, and graters to get those carrots cake ready. We also stock dining aids, such as the Safe Sip Reusable Drinks Cover to make cake and coffee an enjoyable experience for all.

Why not sign up today and arrange to have a coffee morning at work, home or online with your friends, family and colleagues on the 29th of September, so that we can all do our bit to contribute to this worthy cause.

 

Get in Touch

What will you be baking or bringing to this year’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning? Ability Superstore would love to know!