YOUNGSTERS pulled on their aprons and took part in a bake off competition to help connect with older people.

The group, called Youth Connectors, involved 10 children from Woodhouse and Mirehouse who put their culinary skills to the test, with the winners being chosen by Copeland mayor Mike Starkie.

Toni Percival and Evie Spedding were named the best bakers.

The group then visited Bethel House Care Centre, where they shared their cakes and spent time with residents.

Toni said: “I enjoyed taking part in the bake off and winning made it even better than I expected. I also enjoyed meeting the people at Bethel House.”

And Evie said: “It was absolutely fantastic going to the care home and meeting all of the residents, especially seeing all the happy faces there was when I was handing cakes to them all, and winning the bake off was great and an added bonus.”

The day was attended by the Alzheimers Society’s West Cumbria branch and county councillor Emma Williamson, who volunteers for Youth Connectors.

Coun Williamson said: “I have thoroughly loved working with the Youth Connectors. Their passion and drive to support the inclusion of our most vulnerable in our community inspires me to do better.”

Youth Connectors, funded by Cumbria Community Foundation’s #iwill fund, is currently led by UCLan, where young people get together to plan and deliver events to bring people across the generations together, especially older people.

It is a result of the Connected Communities research project which took place in Mirehouse and Woodhouse, and found out that 40 per cent of people over 75 years old said they often felt lonely. More activities will take place in the new year to try to help younger and older people feel more connected to their community.