School teacher at Chuter Ede School, Balderton is donating good to deserving places including Beamound House and Children's Bereavement Centre whilst fundraising for Marie Curie

A teacher has made her own Advent calendar with twist throughout December and offering it to local good causes.

Jessica Mitchell, mother of two and full-time teacher at Chuter Ede Primary School, Balderton is freshly baking and distributing cakes to deserving care homes, midwives and public services.

Although not expecting money for the donations, she has set a fundraising page to which money will be donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

She said the charity was brilliant when her husband recently lost his grandmother.

The fundraising page is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/The24bakesofadvent2022

“I love baking and in a joke I told my husband that if we got a new kitchen I promised to bake for him every day,” said Jessica.

“I never really got around to actually doing it.

“I was baking some cookies and I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to bake something every day in December?

“People do all kinds of different advent calendars, and I could do a reverse one at school, for the food bank, the idea just spiralled from there.”

She first started close to home and gave the baked goods to a teacher she works with.

That was followed by donations to her two children’s nurseries, and it just grew from there as people were suggesting places.

She has donated to places including Newark Fire Station, the police station, ambulance station, Balderton Primary Care Centre, health family team, Sherwood Women’s Centre and Urgent Care Centre at Newark Hospital, Beaumond House, Children’s Bereavement Centre and Palace Theatre.

Jessica said: “It’s been really lovely. I haven’t pre-arranged to drop anything, I just turn up and surprise people.

“I have really enjoyed it so far, if you asked me half way through I would say ­— oh God, only 12 days, feels like I’ve been baking forever, it’s been a mission.

“I’m really pleased I’ve started doing it, I’ve had a nice reception from the public and a positive impact. It’s been worth it.”