NEW PROGRAMME FOR FUTURE CHEFS
LAUNCH OF NEW YOUTH CATERING PROGRAMME AT BOOMERANG CAFE
THREE local hotels and restaurants have joined forces with the Boomerang Café to offer work experience to early school leavers who might want a career in catering or hospitality.
The launch of the Carnegie Catering Programme - Catering Support QQI Level 4 – took place in the café on Wednesday and details were outlined of how young men and women could benefit from this new initiative.
Scholars Townhouse Hotel, The Westcourt Hotel and Relish café have all pledged work experience and support to the unique programme, which hopes to create chefs and hotel staff for the future.
“This programme has been in the pipeline for quite some time, it comes now in response to the many enquires we had from our learners over the last number of years,” says Lorraine McKevitt, co-ordinator of the ESLO (Education Skills Learning Opportunities) initiative.
“It offers a fantastic opportunity for learners to take their first step on the career ladder in the area of catering, and we are also delighted to welcome on board our three programme partners who between them bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, offering our learner some real time experience, knowledge, support and guidance”.
“As well as training in kitchen skills, candidates will receive real-time experience in the facilities which have partnered up with us, and there is no substitute for seeing firsthand how to put what they learn into practice.”
The aim of the training programme is to give motivated and enthusiastic learners aged 16-25 who have the passion for food and cooking, the skills to either progress to full time employment in the Catering and Hospitality industry or to progress onto further education.
The programme will allow learners to develop their catering skills in a holistic and supportive environment and provides an alternative route into further education.
“This will suit early school leavers who perhaps aren’t suited to traditional schooling methods, and we have a much more relaxed attitude to learning,” adds Karen Harrison from Boomerang.
“The programme will give learners the opportunity to work alongside professional skilled chiefs who will provide them with the guidance to develop a valuable career skillset and positive lifestyle habits.” There are nine catering themed modules which will also prepare the learner to progress to QQI Level 5 Culinary Skills courses, should this be their ambition. The course provided a safe, supportive and challenging environment for learners to excel in their catering ambitions, through classroom-based activities and hands on work experience with the three programme partners.
And who knows, perhaps there may the offer of a job at the end of it!
To apply, contact Lorraine, Michelle or Karen at Boomerang Youth Service and Café, 62 Fair Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth on 041 9839919.