{"id":23,"date":"2025-10-23T18:41:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T17:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/katy-woods\/?p=23"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:06:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:06:28","slug":"society-spotlight-baking-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/katy-woods\/2025\/10\/23\/society-spotlight-baking-society\/","title":{"rendered":"Society Spotlight: Baking Society\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cakes and cafes – the perfect society for a chilled Saturday afternoon. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Members of the Baking Society; Image credit: Anushka Yadav<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Identified as \u201ca good way to put yourself out there more\u201d by its secretary, 2nd year Newcastle University student Amber Holmes, Newcastle University Baking Society<\/a>\u00a0hosts weekly baking events and socials for its members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0I spoke to them to find out what they love about the society, and what potential\u00a0members should consider before buying their membership. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For \u00a38 a year, plus additional costs of \u00a33 to \u00a34 per baking session, members get access to weekly baking events and socials.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The committee said that they identify more with being a sober society, opting for caf\u00e9 trips instead of pub crawls and nights out, a notion appreciated by members like 2nd year\u00a0Raya Kancheva who says it\u2019s \u201cnice to have a more chill society that did daytime activities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“…it’s nice to have a more chill society that did daytime activities.”<\/p>Raya Kancheva, Member<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many members spoke about the social aspect of the society, like Benny Suchalla, a masters exchange student from Germany who appreciates the society \u201cbecause you get to know so many nice people.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking while making tiramisu at this week\u2019s \u2018no-bake\u2019 session, Benny said that he had never been part of a society before, since they didn\u2019t have them in his home country, Germany, and \u201creally enjoys the concept\u201d. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The committee agreed; Amber, secretary of the society, said that prior to the society she had \u201cnever really put myself out there much\u201d but used the society \u201cto take an active role in meeting new people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think it’s good to take an active role in meeting new people.”<\/p>Amber Holmes, Secretary<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The society try to host as many baking events as possible, held at Whickham School and Sports College<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, secretary Amber did point out that this is not always possible, and they sometimes have to resort to events such as this one, where kitchens aren\u2019t required. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleanor Batiste, a 1st year student and first timer at baking society said that while making the tiramisu was \u201clovely\u201d, she would enjoy the chance \u201cto actually bake something.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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Baking Society making tiramisu; Image credit: Anushka Yadav<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For others, such as 2nd year student Raya Kancheva,\u00a0the chance to bake is appreciated but it\u2019s the distance that becomes the struggle because the sessions are \u201creally far away because you need an oven\u201d, which aren\u2019t available for student use on campus. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The society have attempted to reach out to closer venues with access to kitchens, such as Newcastle High School for Girls<\/a>, but there is \u201cno availability\u201d since the school is not currently allowing many members of the public to use their kitchens.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anushka Yadav, president of the society and 2nd year student at Newcastle University, said that \u201cour only option was Whickham\u201d but despite the struggle they are \u201cstill trying to make the most of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said that the no bake sessions are done because they can be held on Newcastle University Campus and \u201cpeople can come here easily.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next baking session will take place on October 25 at Whickham School and Sports College, a Halloween special with a nod to classic Autumn film ‘Coraline<\/a>‘ in the form of button cookies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memberships for Newcastle University Baking Society are available to all Newcastle University students, via the NUSU<\/a> website, with weekly baking events available on a ticketed basis.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit my Instagram here:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n