Research Bakers
Show off your baking and science skills while supporting life-changing medical research!
Research Bakers
Group Bake Off
Organise a bake off with your community group, bringing them together for a great cause, and win a visit from Great British Bake Off finalist, Josh Smalley.
Join groups across the UK in supporting vital medical research with an exciting bake off competition!
What is Research Bakers?
Bake a cake with a scientific twist, email a photo, and your group could win a special visit from Josh Smalley, finalist of The Great British Bake Off!
Support medical research
Millions of people in the UK and around the world still grapple with debilitating health conditions. Medical research has gone a long way to solving challenges in human health, but there is so much more to do. You can play a part in this and ensure your organisation continues to have a positive social impact.
A fun and simple competition to join in with
Taking part is straightforward. All you need to do is bake a cake – large or small – with a scientific twist and send a photo to the Foundation. Then invite friends, family and work colleagues to make a donation in return for a slice of your culinary masterpiece.
How does it work?
Getting started as a Research Baker is easy! In simple steps:
- Organise a time and date with your group to bake and bring your creations together.
- Bring your bakes, share them with the group and vote for your favourite edible masterpieces.
- Take a photo of your favourite bakes (no more than three different designs please).
- Send us the photos of your group's favourite bakes by e-mail.
- Get eating! This is the satisfying bit – invite your group members, friends and family to taste your baked creation. Better still – get them to buy a slice and donate the proceeds to the Medical Research Foundation.
Deadline
Submit your photos to us before 5pm on 24 December 2025. Entries by email only. Please see Terms and Conditions below for further details.
Does entry into the competition cost anything?
Entry is free but if you wish to make a donation to the charity, or donate any proceeds from selling your bakes, we would be so grateful for your support for our work. Thank you!
Where do I need to email my entries?
Please email your entries to fundraising@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk.
Terms and conditions
-
View the terms and conditions
1. Promoter
The promoter of this competition is the Medical Research Foundation, registered charity number 1138223. Address 99 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HR.
2. Eligibility
- The competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom.
- The competition is open to community groups in the United Kingdom.
- Entries on behalf of individuals under the age of 16 must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian. By doing so, the parent or legal guardian confirms that they read and understood the terms and conditions.
3. Entry Requirements
- Entry is free and no purchase or donation is necessary.
- To enter, participants, must submit a photo by e-mail including the group’s name and area of the country.
- Entries must be original and must not infringe on any other rights of a third party.
- Each entrant can submit up to three entries per group.
4. Competition Period
- The competition opens on Monday 1 September 2025 and closes on Wednesday 24 December 2025 at 5pm.
- Entries received after the end date will not be considered.
5. Prize
- The winning entry will receive a visit to their group by Josh Smalley at a date and time convenient to both parties, to be arranged by both of them.
- No monetary prize or alternatives will be offered.
- Winners will be contacted directly to confirm details.
6. Winners
- Entries will be judged in January 2026 by Research Bakers Ambassador and finalist of The Great British Bake-Off, Josh Smalley.
- Entries will be judged blindly so that the judge holds no bias towards entries.
- The winning group will be notified by e-mail in January 2026.
- The winning entry is final, and no correspondence will be entered in to.
7. Intellectual Property
- By entering, participants grant Medical Research Foundation the right to publish, and use submitted recipes and images for promotional purposes, with appropriate credit.
8. General Conditions
- The Medical Research Foundation reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these terms.
- The Medical Research Foundation reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice.
- The Medical Research Foundation is not responsible for entries not received due to technical issues.
- The Medical Research Foundation reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or amend the competition where necessary due to circumstances beyond its control.
9. Data Protection
- Personal data provided will be used solely for the purposes of administering the competition and will not be shared with third parties without consent.
For more information about the competition or for any questions on how to enter, please contact our friendly fundraising team.
Email the fundraising team on fundraising@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk. Alternatively, give the team a call on 020 4581 2404.
Other ways to get involved
Request a researcher to talk at your group
Find out more about our research projects, and how science improves lives, by inviting one of our scientists to give a talk to your community group!
Request a talk
Take part in a challenge event
Looking for a different way to fundraise? Join our team of research heroes and take on a more physical challenge.
Fundraising events
Leave a Gift in Your Will
By leaving a gift in your Will to the Foundation, you can ensure that you’ll be leaving a healthier world for future generations.
More about Wills
Research Bakers
Science Bake Off
Snap a picture of a science-themed bake, get it judged by a GBBO star, and win tickets to New Scientist Live.
Support us
Support the power of science
Thanks to you, our researchers are improving human health, changing lives, and giving hope to people with overlooked and underfunded health conditions.