Who can say no to cake? Not the sweet-toothed 4,500 from schools, community centres and welfare facilities who took part in Jewish Care’s Great Jewish Bake Day, raising awareness of the charity’s activities and funds for the buses taking older, isolated people to its services.

At Jewish Care’s Golders Green campus, baker to the stars Rachel Rachel demonstrated how to give cakes an American flavour with stars and stripes decoration.

Among those tucking in was Alice Kelman, 80, a member of the Michael Sobell Centre. “I have five American grandchildren and I’m looking forward to telling them how their British grandmother is celebrating American Independence Day,” she said.

Masterchef finalist Emma Spitzer joined Holocaust Survivors’ Centre members to judge a creative bake off by staff. Sampling the winning entry, HSC member Ivor Perl said: “It’s all well and good seeing The Great British Bake Off on TV but to actually be involved in something like this at the centre is amazing.”

Clore Tikva Primary pupils iced cupcakes alongside Redbridge Community Centre members and the Messy Mischief toddler group, before enjoying entertainment from a magician. Teacher Samantha Bendon said it was “fantastic seeing the generations together”.

Denise Phillips ran a marathon bake day session for children from Hertsmere Jewish Primary who visited residents at Jewish Care’s Stanmore home. A class of Wolfson Hillel Primary children decorated biscuits with members of Connect@ Southgate. At the Clore Manor home in Hendon, residents enjoyed a Wimbledon-themed party.

Thanking participants, Jewish Care chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown said funding for buses was vital. “They are a lifeline to hundreds of older people, many of whom would otherwise be isolated. They take them to our community centres and centres for people living with dementia where they enjoy a range of activities and the opportunity to spend time with others from across the community.”