The KickStart Kitchen will offer free professional chef training and networking services to those currently facing a barrier to employment.

Our Head Chef Ciaran (from the SCOOP Art Cookbooks back in the day) is working hard creating an innovative and genius curriculum that gets anyone and everyone ready for entry level positions in top kitchens.

Then – working with restaurant owners and manager, we will create unique work placements, all designed to produce entry level trainee chefs from all walks of life, notably living in Direct Provision, exiting homelessness services, early school leavers, those from disadvantaged backgrounds and immigrants.

The KickStart Kitchen also aims to help our Hospitality Sector struggling to recruit staff.

***PROJECT UPDATE***

As of October 2024 we are still plugging away on the development of the organisation, our unique fundraising strategy and of course our inaugural programme – The KickStart Kitchen.

While our day jobs are taking up most of our time we have been able to develop the curriculum as well as get involved with running a number of art auctions for Grogan’s Pub (Sun the 20th of Oct) and with the incredible Big Idea social enterprise (taking place in The Iveagh Garden Hotel on the Thursday the 14th of November).

We have big plans for 2025, namely running a huge live, online art auction in Dublin in April (featuring the best artists around), which will lead to start of the KickStart Kitchen Training Programme taking place in Dublin city. The funds raised from the auction will allow us to run back to back courses as well as gear up for trying to fund our own dedicated premises, maybe even our own restaurant. The sky’s the limits! Watch this space…