The Clink Charity is strengthening its Ambassador Programme as Graham Bamford joins the line-up of hospitality experts as group mentoring ambassador. As a charity that provides hospitality training to prisoners the support of dedicated industry professionals is paramount to its continued success, as they strengthen the educational offering, nurture the trainees and spread the word of The Clink to their peers.
As an accomplished hotelier and Master Innholder, Bamford has been appointed to provide support to ex-offenders graduating from the training scheme and nurture their continued development as they enter careers within the industry.
Bamford will work closely with the team of dedicated mentors to ensure that the support given to those leaving prison, and starting work in the hospitality industry, will continue to keep them on the right path. Delivered through hands-on training sessions within the restaurants, and continued support once released, mentoring is a key part of the ongoing rehabilitation of Clink graduates being released into positions within hotels and restaurants where strong customer service skills are required.
The ambassador programme has the backing of well-known chefs to ensure an in-depth and consistently high standard of training is given to those working in the kitchens. The same high standard is seen in the education given to those working front of house in The Clink Restaurants, with Bamford’s extensive experience further strengthening the training efforts.
Graham Bamford says, “The Clink Charity has already done such excellent training work with prisoners in the UK which has dramatically reduced reoffending rates and I am thrilled to have joined its Ambassador Programme as group mentoring ambassador. We are extremely fortunate in the hospitality sector to have numerous networks available to us and I am very proud to be spreading The Clink’s word amongst them to drive support from our industry peers.”
Chris Moore, chief executive of The Clink Charity, added, “It’s fantastic to have Graham on board with us as The Clink’s group mentoring ambassador. His incredible experience in some of the country’s highest rated establishments will enrich the hands-on training offered to the prisoners working as part of the charity’s rehabilitation programme. With his enviable book of contacts within the hospitality industry, and more specifically hotels, I hope he will be able to aid our prisoner recruitment efforts by helping to change misconceptions of employing an ex-offender and finding potential employment opportunities for graduates.
Bamford joins fellow group ambassadors Albert Roux OBE, group chef ambassador and Vic Laws, group restaurant ambassador, bringing another dimension to the charity’s training offering. As group mentoring ambassador, Bamford will dedicate his time, knowledge and experience to the prisoners in training and ex-offenders entering the work place, to coach them and find secure employment opportunities that will continue to benefit their learning and development.
As respected industry figures, Clink ambassadors help raise the charity’s profile and champion its mission of rehabilitating prisoners through education, resulting in a significant reduction in reoffending.
With three prisoner training restaurants currently in operation and a fourth due to open at HMP Styal in Cheshire in 2015, The Clink concept is expanding across Her Majesty’s Prison Estate. With The Clink Gardens at HMP Send and Clink Events, the event catering branch of The Clink, the charity is over half way to its goal of having 10 training projects running by the end of 2017.
To find out more about The Clink Charity and its prisoner training initiatives and for information about getting involved, please visit www.theclinkcharity.org.
To book a table at one of The Clink Restaurants, please visit www.theclinkrestaurant.com/restaurants/book-now.
