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Teen turned away from college starts baking business

Alice Wyatt A young blonde woman with her hair tied in a ponytail. She is smiling at the camera and holding a cake covered in Marshmallows, chocolate sweets and a piece of yellow paper which reads "Golden Ticket".Alice Wyatt
Alice Wyatt has lived with chronic fatigue for more than seven years

A teenager who was told she would not be able to study for her dream job in healthcare because of her own illness has turned her hand to baking.

Alice Wyatt, from Poole in Dorset, had been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which caused her to miss a lot of her school lessons.

The 18-year-old began learning to be an occupational therapist at college so she could help others who had the same condition as her.

But after being told she was "too medically unfit" to continue, she started a business designing and making cakes.

Alice Wyatt A young blonde woman smiling at the camera.Alice Wyatt
She says she started Lally Bakes when she was 17 years old, after being told she was too ill to go to college

Ms Wyatt was 11 years old when she was diagnosed with the chronic condition.

It gives her flu-like symptoms, headaches, migraines and all-over body pain.

"There's not a day, not a minute that goes by that my body doesn't hurt," she said.

Despite trying a number of medications, she found the only thing that really helped was a positive attitude.

"Your mental state helps," she said, adding: "You've got to have that fire to keep going."

Alice Wyatt A two-tier cake decorated with gold icing. The first tier is red and the second is orange. The cake is topped with purple flowers.Alice Wyatt
Ms Wyatt says her business allows her to only work when she is feeling well enough

At school, Ms Wyatt was put onto a reduced timetable where she would only be in the building for two hours per day, and ended up missing about 80 per cent of her classes.

Undeterred, she went on to study Health and Social Care Level 2 at college - a course that was two half-days a week.

Despite passing, when she inquired about advancing to Level 3, she said was told she had not been deemed "not medically fit" to carry on.

"I knew I'd be able to complete the course... it was a bit upsetting," she said.

Alice Wyatt A pink cake decorated with Jammy Dodgers and paper butterflies.Alice Wyatt
She makes celebration cakes, cupcakes and other bakes - but says her blueberry and lime muffins are a favourite with customers

One day, a family member suggested she set up her own cake-making business instead.

"I've done baking my whole life and I was always the one to bake for friends and family," she said.

Naming her company Lally Bakes, Ms Wyatt began making bespoke cakes for birthdays and celebrations.

"It's good for me because I can work it around how I'm feeling and not take on more than I think I can handle," she added.

Offering advice to others with debilitating illnesses, she said people should not be discouraged from finding work.

"Just find something that can fit around you," she said.

"It might not be a full time job like your friends are doing, but you can always find something that works for your mental health."

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