Gaucho has already signed up to the project and will be leading the way for ‘Sponsoring a Kitchen’ after being in partnership with Only A Pavement Away since it began.
The campaign will sit alongside ‘The Right Course’ scheme, which is currently being implemented in both HMP Isis and Wormwood Scrubs, with four further prisons already in the pipeline. OAPA ambassador Tom Aikens will also be supporting the new initiative.
‘The Right Course’ turns staff messes into restaurants run by prisoners for the benefits of all prison staff and external guests. This prepares offenders for work in hospitality when they are released from prison.
Sirieix commented: “This is an amazing opportunity for ex-offenders to turn their lives around and follow a new path to employment within hospitality.
“By partnering with Only A Pavement Away, we’re able to not only support through facilities and training, but also find employers who are willing to participate in order to source suitable roles for the offenders once they’re released and guide them on a positive path.”
For any hospitality businesses wanting to participate in the programme, get in touch with Greg at gregmangham@onlyapavementaway.co.uk.
OAPA charity Founder and chief executive, Greg Mangham, added: “We couldn’t be happier to join forces with Fred who is such a powerhouse in the industry. This is an incredible opportunity for hospitality employers to support this programme from the ground up.
“As we all know, hospitality has arguably been the hardest hit industry during the pandemic, and for it to be able to make such a positive change in someone’s life just goes to demonstrate the resilience and level of forward-thinking of the businesses we work with.
“It’s so important that we’re working with offenders from the earliest moment possible, and this programme does exactly that. We’d like to thank Fred for his valuable industry insight, and urge hospitality businesses to pledge funds to ensure the prison facilities are up to standard for this vital rehabilitation.”