European Social Fund in England

Waltham Forest Mencap - Preparing and Serving Food NVQ Project

The project runs from 2005 to 2007, and was awarded £200,000 of ESF funding by London North Learning and Skills Council. It works in partnership with Harlow College.

The project aims to enable 20 unemployed people with learning disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds to complete an NVQ Level 1 in food hygiene and food preparation, and a paid work placement.

The project provides secure meaningful long-term employment within social enterprises it has set up: 'CookiCo' which provides a buffet service; 'Lets Lunch' which is a sandwich round delivering to local organisations daily; and 'Cafe-Co' which produces 50 hot meals daily at a Disability Resource Centre.

The project will also complete 40 training needs analysis and training plans with individuals from the same target group.

The project prepared the ESF 50th Anniversary Cake for the launch event for the 2007-2013 ESF programme.

One of the participants is John. John is a mature student who was unemployed and having a problematic life before he joined the project. He was encouraged by his key worker to enrol on the food hygiene and food preparation NVQ course. Having previously not faired well working in hotel kitchens unsupported, he has excelled on the NVQ, and has carried on to Level 2.

John worked on 'Lets Lunch' from the set-up, helping to make it a success. From there he transferred to 'Cafe-Co' to help set up the cafe and launch the lunches. He has been an invaluable help to the chef in the preparation and delivery of hot food. The project is now looking at further courses to advance his career to the next level.