The awards founder, chef Chris Sandford, said that people with disabilities can make a critical difference to staff numbers during busy periods such as Christmas, and points to a recent report which suggested that 42% of chef jobs are considered hard to fill as reason to get behind the scheme.
Sandford said: “Our goal is to raise enough funds to become an official training provider and create pathways that make it much easier for people with disabilities to work in the industry, but we need help to get there so we can help alleviate some of the well-publicised strain on chef teams.
“Traditionally, there has been a hesitancy from kitchens to fully embrace people with disabilities, maybe due to a lack of information or a fear of the unknown. We’re here to change perceptions and bridge the gap between employers and employees and ensure that both are fully prepared.
“This is not about ticking a box for diversity, it’s about mobilising an as-yet untapped pool of talent ready to work.”
The Culinary Ability Awards is a not-for-profit organisation that relies on money and time donations and provides a competition for trainees with a variety of disabilities to compete against each other in a professional environment.
The awards recently piloted an independent takeover fundraiser at the Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery restaurant in Glasgow. Three chefs and four front-of-house staff with disabilities were invited to work alongside the existing team, with guests providing payment for their meals in the form of donations.
Commercial director for Two Fat Ladies, Gavin Cuthbertson, said: “The participants were absolutely outstanding on the night; the food and service was excellent. We had guests from hotels, restaurants and colleges alongside regulars. It was a fantastic way of giving back to the community.
“We raised a lot for a great cause, but it’s not just about the money, it’s about giving people with disabilities the opportunity to show that they can thrive in hospitality and change perceptions. For one night they absolutely ran the show, we were simply the support act.”