STAFF and residents at Cherry Trees care home in Alcester are celebrating after their regional directors entered a cook off to raise money for charity.
Melissa Harker and Clare Mudge, from Barchester’s North West and Midlands Division, have stepped completely out of their comfort zones to compete in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2025.
Clare and Melissa went head-to-head with staff from four other divisions and cooked up a storm to raise £31,000 for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.
The organisation helps connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their local area by providing grants to improve mobility and quality of life.
Each year the foundation distributes thousands of pounds to individuals, small community groups and charities across England, Scotland and Wales.
In 2024 the foundation achieved a donation milestone of £335,000 which enabled the charity to provide vital help to 239 small groups and charities, plus 104 individuals in one year alone.
Melissa and Clare made a three course meal for their cook off challenge, plus afternoon tea items.
They were pipped at the post but highly commended by the judges and won the best dessert award for their cheesecake.
Cherry Trees care home’s general manager, Debbie Osborne, said: “We are all so proud of Clare and Melissa for taking part in this challenge – they really are both amazing.
“Their dishes looked absolutely fantastic and they raised so much for the foundation, we think they are absolute superstars.”
