A group of bakers hope online crowd funding will enable them to continue to expand their programme of community projects.

The Hornbeam Bakers Collective is a group of local bakers who make and sell bread to markets, cafes and people in Walthamstow in an effort to address social and environmental issues like isolation, unemployment as well as a lack of knowledge of, and control over, how food is produced.

Currently operating from the Hornbeam Cafe in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, increasing demand for their products and projects means they need to move to a new site.

Group member Raju Sachi Singh says moving to a bigger location will enable them to offer more workshops, a training programme to become a baker and facilitate an in-house cafe and catering service.

“We endeavour to make the Hornbeam Bakers Collective community workshop one of the most affordable and community focused bakery workshops in London,” he said.

The group is made up of around 15 people who all have baking training and experience but none of whom make their living as bakers.

Another member, Pilar Lopez, says she put the group’s success down six years of hard work at the Hornbeam Cafe which helped establish strong relationships and contacts.

“We don’t want to make any profits, but to be able to carry on,” she said.

“At our new premises we will have our own kitchen and be able to offer educational projects and offer apprenticeships.”

The collective is moving to Blackhorse Workshops in Sutherland Road Path, Walthamstow, a community space set to open in January which will function like a public workshop, offering resources and space to work.

The group need to raise money to install a commercial oven and a professionally equipped kitchen at a cost of £3,000.

Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hornbeambakerscollective to donate.