Looking for a fun way to raise money for charity? Nimika turned her love of baking into a Brilliant Breakfast fundraiser, bringing friends and family together for an afternoon of tea and cake.
Through guest donations and a charity art auction, she raised more than £785 for The Trust’s Change a Girl’s Life campaign, far exceeding her original £100 target.
Here, Nimika shares what inspired her to get involved, how she organised her event and her tips for turning something you love into a successful fundraiser.
What inspired you to fundraise for Change a Girl's Life?
Supporting young women to achieve their goals has always been something I’ve felt passionate about. At the beginning of 2026, I set myself a goal to give back to a charitable cause. I couldn’t commit to regular volunteering, but I knew I could make a difference through fundraising.
When I saw an ad for The King’s Trust on Instagram, it immediately resonated with me. I’m really passionate about supporting young women into the workplace, encouraging female entrepreneurs and seeing more young women represented in all areas of business.
I’m also a really keen baker and food lover, so hosting a Brilliant Breakfast to Change a Girl’s Life seemed like the perfect way to combine my interests with a cause I really care about. Bringing friends and family together over tea and cake to raise funds for young women facing barriers to employment was an easy decision, and it gave me a meaningful way to make a positive impact.
How did you raise funds at your Brilliant Breakfast?
I raised funds for The King’s Trust by hosting an afternoon tea and cake event, with guests making a donation to attend.
To boost fundraising even further, an artist friend generously donated a piece of artwork called ‘Head in the Clouds’. We auctioned the piece during the event, with a significant portion of the proceeds donated to the fundraiser.
Combining guest donations with the charity auction helped us exceed our initial fundraising target of £100 and we raised more than £785 to support young women to gain the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to get into work.
What was your favourite part about hosting a Brilliant Breakfast?
I was really touched by people's kindness and support. It was a journey I couldn't have predicted. I reconnected with people I'd lost touch with, simply because they saw my fundraising efforts on social media.
I was so pleased with the cake I made that fitted the 'Change a Girl's Life' campaign theme, but the most memorable moment was learning that the winning bidder of the artwork has since donated it to a local primary school in the hope of inspiring young minds to dream big, shoot for the stars, and never lose the feeling of having your head in the clouds.
Nimika's top fundraising tips:
1. Turn something you're passionate about into a fundraiser.
For me this was baking and supporting young women, it made fundraising enjoyable and authentic.
A relaxed afternoon of tea and cake was easy to organise but had a big impact.
3. Ask your guests to contribute.
Inviting guests to make a donation to attend was a great way to raise funds from the moment my guests arrived. Check out The Trust's free fundraising resources to see how else you could raise funds at your event.
4. Use your network.
Reach out to friends, family and local contacts. Auctioning a generous artwork donation from my friend really helped me exceed my fundraising target.
5. Don’t underestimate the power of social media.
Sharing my fundraising page online helped me reach people who weren’t able to attend my event and even helped me reconnect with people I’d lost contact with.
Want to know more about The Brilliant Breakfast?
The Brilliant Breakfast brings people together to raise funds for The King's Trust Change a Girl's Life campaign, helping young women access the support and opportunities they need to build their futures.
Get involved by registering to host your own Brilliant Breakfast, this March.
