Anita and her husband Gavin run Putty Cakes in the centre of Dorking, and have transformed their beautiful Grade II listed building into a warm, welcoming hub where everyone in the community is invited.
Whether it’s offering “Hanging Coffees” and lunches for people to pay forward, hosting local groups like U3A and WI, or running a free weekly ‘Bill Clinic’ to help residents save on household costs, Putty Cakes is driven by a simple yet powerful mission: to build social value every single day.
But their impact doesn’t stop at community connection, sustainability is at the heart of their work too:
🌿 Many of their plants have been donated or bought second hand.
🎂 Surplus cake decorating items are shared with customers at discounted prices — sometimes even free — and leftover fondant icing is donated to the local Bee Society.
🍞 Leftover bread is turned into delicious bread pudding, helping to reduce food waste.
♻️ All takeaway cake tubs, coffee cups, and black sacks are 100% recyclable.
🪑 Every piece of furniture has been lovingly sourced second hand.
🌾 Ingredients are thoughtfully sourced from local and responsible suppliers wherever possible.
One of their most heartfelt initiatives is the ‘Help Yourself Shelf’:
Take What You Need — Pay What You Can!
This shelf is filled with treats and goodies for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up, wants to enjoy something delicious, or simply feels like a treat.
• Take an item — no questions asked.
• Pay what you can, if you can.
• Every contribution helps keep this special offering going for the community.
The Help Yourself Shelf is made possible through the generosity of customers and Putty Cakes’ unwavering passion for reducing food waste and spreading kindness.
As Anita says, “We try to build social value every day, in small ways and big ones.”
Times are tough for many small businesses, and Putty Cakes is no exception. But by staying rooted in kindness, community, and sustainability, Anita and Gavin continue to show what it means to truly put people first.
If you’re in Dorking, pop in to enjoy a slice of award-winning cake, a comforting coffee, or something from the Help Yourself Shelf and know that, just by stepping inside, you’re part of something bigger.
And if you’re looking for a partner for a community or sustainability project, Anita and Gavin would love to connect.
Whether it’s offering “Hanging Coffees” and lunches for people to pay forward, hosting local groups like U3A and WI, or running a free weekly ‘Bill Clinic’ to help residents save on household costs, Putty Cakes is driven by a simple yet powerful mission: to build social value every single day.
But their impact doesn’t stop at community connection, sustainability is at the heart of their work too:
🌿 Many of their plants have been donated or bought second hand.
🎂 Surplus cake decorating items are shared with customers at discounted prices — sometimes even free — and leftover fondant icing is donated to the local Bee Society.
🍞 Leftover bread is turned into delicious bread pudding, helping to reduce food waste.
♻️ All takeaway cake tubs, coffee cups, and black sacks are 100% recyclable.
🪑 Every piece of furniture has been lovingly sourced second hand.
🌾 Ingredients are thoughtfully sourced from local and responsible suppliers wherever possible.
One of their most heartfelt initiatives is the ‘Help Yourself Shelf’:
Take What You Need — Pay What You Can!
This shelf is filled with treats and goodies for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up, wants to enjoy something delicious, or simply feels like a treat.
• Take an item — no questions asked.
• Pay what you can, if you can.
• Every contribution helps keep this special offering going for the community.
The Help Yourself Shelf is made possible through the generosity of customers and Putty Cakes’ unwavering passion for reducing food waste and spreading kindness.
As Anita says, “We try to build social value every day, in small ways and big ones.”
Times are tough for many small businesses, and Putty Cakes is no exception. But by staying rooted in kindness, community, and sustainability, Anita and Gavin continue to show what it means to truly put people first.
If you’re in Dorking, pop in to enjoy a slice of award-winning cake, a comforting coffee, or something from the Help Yourself Shelf and know that, just by stepping inside, you’re part of something bigger.
And if you’re looking for a partner for a community or sustainability project, Anita and Gavin would love to connect.
We’ve awarded Putty Cakes the Leading the Way & Shopping badge in recognition of their commitment to community for promoting social value to local businesses.
