Together with other Cooks, I have been astounded by the success and ambition of The Clink, as witnessed during recent visits to HMP Downview (women’s prison), The Clink’s HQ at HMP High Down (men’s prison) on 18th February, HMP Brixton on 28th March and the annual fundraising Ball on 11th January. Clink Events also catered for the recent City Food Lecture.
The Clink is a Charity working with prisoners to reduce reoffending by training in prison and supporting graduates once they leave in the skills required for a job in the hospitality industry. The Clink operates training restaurants, a café, an events catering business and gardens. Prisoners work to gain City & Guilds NVQs in food preparation, food hygiene and service. The Cooks Charity has been supporting the Clink since 2018 contributing to the salary of the Chef mentor at the training kitchen at HMP Downview in Banstead.
The Clink and Cooks Charity by numbers:
Number 1 – The Clink’s restaurant ranking on TripAdvisor
4 Clink fine-dining restaurants at HMP High Down, HMP Cardiff, HMP Brixton, HMP Styal
5 – Clink Five-Step Programme – Recruit, Train, Support, Employ, Mentor
8% – Clink graduates’ re-offending rate 2014/16 (the equivalent group’s rate is 20.6% – Justice Data Lab 2018)
9 participating restaurants
95 Clink graduates released and supported in the Community (2017)
106 City & Guilds Certificates awarded (2017)
304 prisoners trained (2017)
2009 – foundation of the Clink Charity
£60,000 – Cooks Charity first grant to the Clink (2018)
250,000 training hours annually
100,000 meals served by the Clink annually
What can you do? Book into one of the restaurants or donate directly to the Clink Charity www.theclinkcharity.org
(April 2019)
Author: Oliver Goodinge
Oliver is a Past Master of the Company and Chairman of the Trustees of the Cooks Charity.
